Scarlett Johansson said she was "shocked, angered and in disbelief" this week after OpenAI unveiled a new ChatGPT voice called Sky that sounded eerily similar to her own — despite the fact that she had already turned down the company's direct request to provide the voice.
OpenAI Launches Sky Voice for GPT-4o
In a high-profile demo of its new GPT-4o model, OpenAI showcased a conversational AI voice it called Sky. Critics and media outlets immediately noted the striking resemblance to Johansson's voice from the 2013 film Her, in which she portrayed Samantha — an AI assistant who develops an intimate relationship with a human user.
Sam Altman appeared to lean into the comparison himself, posting a single word on X after the demo: "her." Johansson described the tweet as an insinuation that the similarity was intentional.
OpenAI's Response
OpenAI moved to pause the Sky voice after Johansson's lawyers intervened. In a statement, Altman said: "The voice of Sky is not Scarlett Johansson's, and it was never intended to resemble hers. We cast the voice actor behind Sky's voice before any outreach to Ms. Johansson." The company added: "We are sorry to Ms. Johansson that we didn't communicate better."
OpenAI maintains that Sky belongs to a different professional actress using her own natural speaking voice, and that no imitation was intended.
Initial Approach and Rejection
The dispute traces back to September 2023, when Altman personally approached Johansson and asked her to provide the voice for ChatGPT 4.0. According to Johansson, Altman suggested her voice could help bridge the gap between technology and humanity and make people more comfortable with AI.
She declined. Two days before the GPT-4o demo was released publicly, Altman contacted her agent once again asking her to reconsider — but the system went live before any agreement could be reached.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
Johansson wasted no time. She hired legal counsel and sent two formal letters to Altman and OpenAI, demanding the company detail the exact process by which the Sky voice was created.
In a statement to the BBC, Johansson said: "After hearing the released demo I was simply in disbelief and shocked and angry that Mr. Altman was seeking to mimic and replicate my voice audio in such a way."
The case has drawn wider attention to the legal grey areas around AI-generated voices and the likeness rights of public figures. Johansson noted the broader stakes: "In a time when we are all dealing with deepfakes and new questions of ownership over our own images, our own works, our own selves — I do not feel entirely comfortable with it."
Legal experts have said Johansson may have a strong and credible claim if she pursues formal litigation against OpenAI.
