Scarlett Johansson vs. OpenAI

A major legal and ethical firestorm ignited when OpenAI demoed a new voice assistant feature named "Sky" for ChatGPT. Listeners immediately noted its uncanny resemblance to the voice of actress Scarlett Johansson, specifically her portrayal of an AI assistant in the film Her. The situation escalated when Johansson revealed that OpenAI had previously approached her to license her voice, which she declined. She expressed shock and anger that the company proceeded with a voice so similar that her closest friends and news outlets couldn't tell the difference.

OpenAI paused the use of the "Sky" voice, maintaining it was not an imitation of Johansson but belonged to a different professional actress cast before any outreach to the star. The incident, however, transcends a single celebrity. It has become a focal point for critical debates surrounding AI ethics, intellectual property, and digital likeness. It highlights the ease with which AI can mimic personal attributes and the lack of clear legal frameworks to protect individuals. The controversy has forced a broader conversation about the need for legislation around voice cloning and the ethical boundaries companies must respect when developing increasingly human-like AI.