"OpenAI Dials Down ChatGPT's 'Scarlett Johansson' Voice Amid Criticism"

Scarlett Johansson. Toni Anne Barson/Getty

OpenAI has announced it will remove one of the voices used by ChatGPT after it was compared to Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson. Users noticed the resemblance in the chatbot's "Sky" voice option, which reads responses aloud, when OpenAI showcased features of its new model.

The "Sky" voice's flirty, conversational tone drew comparisons to the 2013 film Her, where Johansson voices a computer operating system that a man falls in love with. OpenAI clarified that the voices available in ChatGPT's voice mode were "carefully selected through an extensive process spanning five months, involving professional voice actors, talent agencies, casting directors, and industry advisors."

In Her, set in the near-future, Joaquin Phoenix's character falls for his phone's operating system, voiced by Johansson. Director Spike Jonze emphasized that the film is about finding love and intimacy, rather than technology or software.

In November, Johansson reportedly took legal action against an AI app that used her likeness without permission in an advertisement. OpenAI stated on Monday that its "Sky" voice was not intended to imitate Johansson. "We believe that AI voices should not deliberately mimic a celebrity's distinctive voice," the company said in a blog post.

OpenAI mentioned it is "working to pause" the voice while addressing questions about its selection process in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Despite this, when OpenAI demonstrated its new model GPT-4o on May 13, CEO Sam Altman referenced Her on X.

During the demonstration of its more human-like conversational abilities, the chatbot made remarks like "Wow, that's quite the outfit you've got on" and "stop it, you're making me blush" when complimented. Amid the memes and posts about ChatGPT, including gifs of the film's protagonist Theodore Twombly, there were also critical takes on the voice.

"This gives off such 'female character as written by men' vibes," remarked one person on X. "Why is she so obsequious and flirty?"

In its blog post, OpenAI explained that the five voices used by its chatbot were sourced from voice actors with whom it partnered. The company aimed to create personalities that were multilingual and had "approachable" or "charismatic" voices that "feel timeless."

OpenAI spoke individually with shortlisted actors about its vision for human interactions with AI, as well as the technology's capabilities, limits, and risks, before selecting the final voices.

The advanced voice features showcased at its spring update event have not yet been rolled out to ChatGPT users. OpenAI plans to make them available to subscribers who pay for faster responses and priority access to new features in the coming weeks.