Unconsented Impersonation: The Scarlett Johansson Saga and AI Accountability
The dispute between OpenAI and Scarlett Johansson sheds light on the broader concerns surrounding the disregard for consent and intellectual property rights in the generative AI revolution
The Facts:
The recent saga involving OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, and actress Scarlett Johansson highlights the complex ethical challenges surrounding the development of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems. According to reports, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman introduced a new audio chatbot feature called "Sky" that was set to be unveiled as part of the company's GPT-4 system. The chatbot features five distinct "personas" that can perform tasks like telling bedtime stories and engaging in small talk.
Altman approached Johansson in September 2022, asking her to lend her voice to the "Sky" persona. Johansson declined the offer, but Altman allegedly reached out again just two days before the technology's public demonstration, though Johansson did not respond in time. When the "Sky" persona was unveiled, many of Johansson's fans, friends, and even the actress herself agreed that the voice sounded eerily similar to her distinct vocal qualities. As Johansson's friend stated, "The voice is identical. It's uncanny." Another friend added, "It's like they just ripped her voice without permission."
OpenAI claimed that the voice belonged to a different professional actress using her natural speaking voice, but the company refused to name the actress, fueling suspicions that they had, in fact, cloned Johansson's voice without her consent. Johansson's lawyers have since sent a cease and desist letter to OpenAI, threatening legal action. In response, the company has paused public access to the "Sky" persona, maintaining that it did nothing wrong.
Altman's own social media activity has added to the controversy, as he posted a single word – "Her" – on the day of the GPT-4 launch, which many have interpreted as a reference to the 2013 film in which Johansson voiced an AI assistant named "Samantha" who had a romantic relationship with the protagonist. Altman has cited this film as one of his favorites.
The Johansson incident is seen as a microcosm of the broader ethical concerns surrounding the rapid advancement of generative AI systems. These technologies are often developed by leveraging data and content from the internet, frequently without the consent or attribution of the original creators. As one critic noted, "This is a flagrant violation of an actor's right of publicity and a brazen act of theft." Another artist expressed their concern, stating, "If they can do this to Scarlett Johansson, they can do it to any of us."
The View:
The Scarlett Johansson debacle is a profound illustration of the raw deal at the heart of the generative AI revolution. It reflects a larger pattern of tech companies, driven by a manifest destiny mindset, plowing ahead with transformative technologies while disregarding ethical considerations and the rights of creators. OpenAI's alleged actions in this case, if true, demonstrate a concerning disregard for consent and intellectual property rights.
The company's attempt to justify the use of Johansson's voice by claiming it would be "comforting to people" who find AI assistants off-putting reveals a paternalistic and opportunistic approach to technology development. This mindset, where the perceived importance of the end goal outweighs the means, is emblematic of the broader philosophy underpinning the rush towards artificial general intelligence (AGI).
As experts have highlighted, OpenAI's leaders have openly acknowledged the inherent unfairness in a small group of people wielding the power to build technologies that could drastically reshape society. Yet, they seem to view this as a necessary evil in the pursuit of their transformative vision. This rationalist, ends-justify-the-means approach is deeply troubling, as it threatens to erode fundamental rights and principles in the name of technological progress.
The Johansson incident is a stark reminder that the creators of these powerful AI systems wield immense influence and, in some cases, appear willing to trample over individual and creative rights in their quest to realize their grand ambitions. It underscores the urgent need for robust ethical frameworks, rigorous oversight, and regulatory measures to ensure that technological advancement occurs in a manner that respects the rights and concerns of all stakeholders, including artists, writers, and the public at large.
TLDR:
The recent saga involving OpenAI and actress Scarlett Johansson highlights the complex ethical challenges surrounding the development of advanced AI systems.
OpenAI allegedly used Johansson's voice without her consent to create an AI chatbot persona, leading to a cease-and-desist letter from her lawyers.
The Johansson incident is seen as a microcosm of the broader ethical concerns surrounding the rapid advancement of generative AI systems, which often disregard the rights of creators and original content producers.
The company's attempt to justify the use of Johansson's voice reveals a paternalistic and opportunistic approach to technology development, where the perceived importance of the end goal outweighs the means.
The Johansson incident underscores the urgent need for robust ethical frameworks, rigorous oversight, and regulatory measures to ensure that technological advancement respects the rights and concerns of all stakeholders.
The creators of powerful AI systems wield immense influence and, in some cases, appear willing to trample over individual and creative rights in their quest to realize their grand ambitions.
Insights From:
What Scarlett Johansson vs. ChatGPT says about AI - The Washington Post