OpenAI is eradicating one of many voices utilized by ChatGPT after customers discovered that it sounded much like Scarlett Johansson, the corporate introduced on Monday. The voice, known as Sky, is now being paused after OpenAI used it when demoing its new GPT-4o mannequin final week.
“We consider that AI voices shouldn’t intentionally mimic a celeb’s distinctive voice—Sky’s voice will not be an imitation of Scarlett Johansson however belongs to a special skilled actress utilizing her personal pure talking voice,” the corporate wrote in a weblog submit. “To guard their privateness, we can’t share the names of our voice skills.”
A video of the demo made the rounds on social media final week as customers discovered the voice to be much like Johansson’s. Some mocked the voice for being overly flirtatious, whereas others likened it to a male fantasy.
The flirty voice has drawn comparisons to the 2013 movie “Her,” wherein Johansson voices a sultry digital assistant. The movie’s major character, performed by Joaquin Phoenix, finally ends up falling in love with the digital assistant.
Though the corporate hasn’t in contrast Sky’s voice to Johansson’s, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tweeted the phrase “Her” following the corporate’s occasion.
The demo aimed to showcase the chatbot’s enhanced conversational talents, however went viral after the sultry voice giggled at nearly every part an OpenAI worker was saying. At one level, the chatbot advised the worker: “Wow, that’s fairly the outfit you’ve received on.” At one other level, the chatbot stated “Cease it, you’re making me blush” after receiving a praise.
In its weblog submit, OpenAI says it desires its chatbots’ voices to sound “approachable” and to “encourage belief.” It additionally desires them to have a “heat, partaking, confidence-inspiring, charismatic voice.”
Going ahead, OpenAI says it plans to “introduce further voices in ChatGPT to raised match the various pursuits and preferences of customers.”
In line with NPR correspondent Bobby Allyn, Johansson launched an announcement afterward Monday saying that OpenAI approached her in September about supplying the voice. Within the assertion, she stated that she declined “after a lot consideration and for private causes” and was “shocked” when she heard the launched demo.
The assertion additionally says that she was “pressured to rent authorized counsel” and that the corporate “reluctantly agreed” to vary the Sky voice.
We’ve reached out to OpenAI and Artistic Artists Company for remark and can replace this story after we hear again.
Replace: This story initially revealed at 8 a.m. PT Monday and was up to date to incorporate Johansson’s assertion.
