OpenAI recently made headlines with a statement announcing the removal of its ChatGPT-40 AI voice, named “Sky,” which unintentionally sounded similar to Scarlett Johansson’s portrayal of a conversational AI in the movie Her. Despite claiming that Sky was not meant to resemble Johansson’s voice, the company decided to take it down out of respect for the actress. However, Johansson revealed that she had been approached by OpenAI twice to use her voice for the project, but she declined. CEO Sam Altman clarified that the voice actor behind Sky was hired before reaching out to Johansson, but the striking similarities between the actress’s voices cannot be ignored.
Altman’s explanation seems to overlook the obvious attempt by OpenAI to replicate the convincing conversational AI portrayed by Johansson in Her. By referencing the movie in his tweet and striving to recreate that level of authenticity, Altman missed the true message of the film. In Her, a man becomes overly attached to an AI companion, only to realize that he is not special and she has formed relationships with numerous other users. The film highlights the dangers of becoming too emotionally invested in artificial beings and the importance of real human connections.
The situation involving OpenAI and the Sky AI voice raises concerns about the potential psychological impact of creating AI companions that closely mimic human interactions. Altman’s desire to emulate the movie Her, including the seductive voice of the actress, raises ethical questions about the boundaries between reality and artificial intelligence. This misstep by OpenAI reflects a larger issue within the tech industry of striving to replicate dystopian sci-fi concepts without considering the harmful implications.
The pursuit of a metaverse, similar to depictions in media like Snow Crash and Ready Player One, has also faced criticism for overlooking the dystopian aspects of escaping reality through technology. The focus on creating virtual realities for profit and corporate interests raises concerns about the impact on society. The failure of real-life metaverse attempts reflects a disconnect between the idealized vision of digital utopias and the potential consequences of unchecked technological advancement.
Overall, the controversy surrounding OpenAI’s ChatGPT-40 AI voice and the parallels to the movie Her highlight the complexities of artificial intelligence and human interactions. The tech industry’s eagerness to replicate fictional narratives without understanding the deeper themes and implications can lead to unintended consequences. As technology continues to advance, it is essential to consider the ethical implications of creating AI companions and virtual realities that blur the lines between fantasy and reality.
