From Fortune Magazine: 2024-05-20 22:57:31

OpenAI plans to stop using a ChatGPT voice named Sky after users noted resemblances to Scarlett Johansson’s AI voice in the film “Her.” The company emphasized that it did not intentionally mimic the actress, and could not disclose the voice actor’s identity for privacy reasons. OpenAI has yet to clarify why it decided to pause Sky’s usage.

The newest iteration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, GPT-4o, has been unveiled with advanced capabilities such as mimicking human cadences, detecting moods, and providing more sophisticated interactions. This model offers real-time reasoning across text, audio, and video, with enhanced emotion in its voice responses. GPT-4o will be gradually rolled out to select users over the coming weeks.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman teased the release of GPT-4o by posting the word “her” on social media platform X. Some interactions with GPT-4o have been perceived as flirtatious, sparking conversations about how tech companies interact with gender in developing voice assistants. Critics have long raised concerns about gendered biases in AI assistants, citing examples of subservience built into female-voiced assistants.



Read more at Fortune Magazine: OpenAI says chatbot voice is ‘not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson but belongs to a different professional actress.’ It’s still ‘working to pause’ it