Scarlett Johansson’s lawyers have demanded that OpenAI take down a voice for ChatGPT that sounds much like her own after she had declined to work with the company to create it. The actress was shocked and angered by the voice, which resembled her voiceover work in the movie Her. OpenAI claimed the voice was not an imitation of Johansson and had partnered with professional voice actors to create it. The incident further fueled the connection between the AI’s voice and Johansson’s own.
Google made several AI-related announcements at its annual developer conference, including the rollout of AI overviews on search results and new features in Google Lens and Google Workspace products. DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis unveiled Project Astra, a universal assistant that can see, hear, understand its surroundings, and perform tasks such as identifying code errors and finding misplaced objects. Meanwhile, talent reshuffling was evident at OpenAI, with key safety researchers, including co-founder Ilya Sutskever, resigning and the dissolution of the company’s superalignment team.
In the world of AI deals, Scale AI raised $1 billion at a $14 billion valuation, while Coactive AI and PolyAI secured significant funding rounds as well. The departure of key researchers at OpenAI shed light on the company’s strict nondisclosure agreements and off-boarding processes, including potential equity cancellation for employees who refused to sign them. The challenges faced by OpenAI in balancing safety research with the development of AI products have come under scrutiny.
The troubling trend of AI-generated images of young girls attracting the attention of predators on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram has raised concerns about online child safety. Comments objectifying and sexualizing AI-generated children have been found on these platforms, leading to their removal by the companies after being brought to their attention. These incidents highlight the need for stronger measures to prevent the exploitation of AI-generated content.
Microsoft introduced a new line of Windows computers with AI features built-in, allowing users to run AI-powered apps locally on the device without an internet connection. The Copilot+ PCs utilize AI capabilities to assist users with screen recording, image generation, and audio translation from 40 languages. Additionally, some universities turned to AI to deliver commencement speeches this year, with robots like Sophia and AI models like GPT-4 being used for this purpose at graduation ceremonies.
Overall, advancements in AI technology continue to shape various industries and raise important ethical considerations regarding privacy, safety, and accountability. As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, it is crucial for companies and policymakers to address these challenges and ensure that AI is developed and utilized responsibly for the benefit of society.
