OpenAI’s use of a voice resembling Scarlett Johansson’s performance in the film “Her” has ignited a backlash against AI in Hollywood. Johansson accused OpenAI of copying her performance without agreement, exacerbating concerns among Hollywood creatives about AI’s threat to their work. This comes as studios explore collaborations with OpenAI, despite worries about copyright infringement from its AI models trained on publicly available works.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman denied that the voice was intended to resemble Johansson’s and stated it was cast before contacting her. Despite this, the dispute has strained relations between content creators and tech companies. The conflict highlights broader fears about AI’s impact on rights to publicity and the use of likenesses without consent.
Historically, similar cases involving celebrities like Bette Midler and Tom Waits, who successfully sued for unauthorized use of voice imitations, suggest Johansson might have a strong case. The Screen Actors Guild is advocating for federal protections against the misuse of voice and likeness, emphasizing the need for legal solutions as AI technology continues to evolve.
Source – CGTN