Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson has been invited to testify before a House Technology Subcommittee following her accusations against OpenAI for using a voice in its ChatGPT that she claims sounds strikingly similar to her own. The invitation was extended by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), chair of the subcommittee, after Johansson expressed concerns on social media.
Johansson voiced her shock and disbelief in May, accusing OpenAI of creating a voice for its “Sky” chatbot that closely mimicked her own, despite her refusal to participate. The actress, known for her role as an AI chat system in the 2013 film “Her,” stated that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had approached her to provide a voice for the feature, which she declined. Upon discovering the similar voice, she hired lawyers to address the issue with OpenAI.
OpenAI has denied that the “Sky” voice was an imitation of Johansson’s, asserting that it was developed using the voice of a different professional actress. CEO Sam Altman apologized for the miscommunication and announced a pause in the use of Sky’s voice out of respect for Johansson.
Rep. Mace’s office revealed that Johansson could not attend the proposed July 9 hearing but might be available in October. Mace emphasized that the hearing would allow Johansson to share her concerns about deepfakes and contribute to the broader public debate on the issue.
Johansson has called for greater transparency and legislation to protect individuals’ rights in the age of advancing technology, including artificial intelligence. “In a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe these are questions that deserve absolute clarity,” she said. She looks forward to a resolution that includes the passage of appropriate legislation to ensure the protection of individual rights.
This invitation and Johansson’s potential testimony underscore the increasing scrutiny and legislative attention being given to the implications of deepfake technology and AI on personal identity and privacy.
