Scarlett Johansson, known for her role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has voiced her criticism of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, suggesting he could be a formidable villain in a Marvel movie. This comes amidst an ongoing feud between the two, sparked by OpenAI’s alleged unauthorized use of Johansson’s voice and image.
In May, OpenAI released its latest generative AI model, ChatGPT 4.0, which included a feature named Sky. Johansson found Sky’s voice to be eerily similar to her own, as she was previously approached by OpenAI to voice their ChatGPT system, an offer she declined. Despite her refusal, Altman allegedly contacted Johansson’s agent and asked her to reconsider, even after the system was already released. Johansson, feeling betrayed and angry, confirmed that she had contacted OpenAI’s legal team to have Sky’s voice removed.
OpenAI ultimately complied with Johansson’s request but maintained that Sky’s voice belonged to a different actress. However, Johansson remained unconvinced, stating that the voice was too close to her own, leading to confusion among friends and media outlets.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Johansson expressed her concerns about the rapid advancement of technology, particularly deepfake technology. She believes this technology can be used for malicious purposes, such as revenge porn or spreading misinformation.
Johansson highlighted the potential dangers of deepfakes, stating that once a deepfake is created, it can be difficult to control its spread. Even if one instance is removed, it can easily resurface elsewhere, especially in countries with different legal frameworks.
The actress, while acknowledging the benefits of technology, emphasized its potential for harm and urged people to be aware of its implications. She believes technology moves faster than humans can comprehend, and its effects are already visible, particularly among young people.
Johansson’s public criticism of Altman and her concerns about deepfake technology have sparked a wider conversation about the ethics of AI and its impact on society. While OpenAI has taken steps to address Johansson’s concerns, the controversy highlights the challenges of regulating and controlling the use of powerful AI technologies.
