Scarlett Johansson challenges OpenAI for replicating her voice without permission

From Financial Times: 2024-05-24 13:00:23

In the movie Her, Theodore Twombly falls in love with an AI assistant with Scarlett Johansson’s voice. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tried to replicate Johansson’s voice for their AI ChatGPT, leading to a legal dispute. Johansson’s actions highlight the concerns of actors losing control to technology companies in Hollywood and the creative industries.

Scarlett Johansson is a successful actor known for her diverse roles. Married to Colin Jost, she has two children. Johansson has confronted powerful entities in Hollywood, such as Disney over streaming disputes. As a child in Manhattan, she was drawn to acting and paved her way to success despite early struggles.

Johansson’s distinctive voice became an asset in her career, but she now faces challenges as OpenAI replicates it without permission. Legal scholars note historical cases like Bette Midler’s voice protection against unauthorised use. The OpenAI team, inspired by the movie Her, faced backlash from Johansson for replicating her voice without consent.

Johansson, pushing back against OpenAI, highlights the issue actors face with technology companies appropriating their voices without permission. Despite the disputes and challenges faced, Johansson’s actions may pave the way for changes in protecting actors’ rights against unauthorized use of their likeness and voice in the digital era.



Read more at Financial Times: Scarlett Johansson, the Hollywood star taking on OpenAI