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| OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the OpenAI GETTY IMAGES |
OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, has introduced an early version of its voice assistant to a select group of paid subscribers as of Tuesday. This move follows a delay from the originally planned late June release, prompted by safety concerns and backlash over a voice option that drew significant criticism for its resemblance to that of actress Scarlett Johansson.
The newly released “alpha” version of the voice assistant is now available to a limited user base, with OpenAI aiming to make it accessible to all GPT-Plus subscribers by this fall. The company had previously announced a delay from the initial release schedule, citing the need for additional time to meet "launch standards." This delay came in response to feedback from a demonstration in May, which featured a voice option that many believed closely mimicked Johansson's voice.
Notably, the voice known as “Sky,” which was one of five options showcased during the May demo, has been omitted from this new release. The voice's resemblance to Johansson’s AI portrayal in the 2013 film "Her" attracted considerable attention, particularly after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted a cryptic tweet with the word “her” on the same day the ChatGPT-4o version and voice assistant were unveiled.
Following Johansson’s public reaction, which included expressing her shock and hiring legal counsel, OpenAI admitted to the similarities between Sky and Johansson’s voice but clarified that the voice belonged to “a different professional actress using her own natural speaking voice.” Altman later apologized for the resemblance, acknowledging the concerns raised by Johansson.
In response to the controversy, OpenAI has introduced new privacy features to the voice assistant, designed to prevent the AI from imitating specific individuals' voices and to block requests that involve generating copyrighted content. These measures are part of the company's broader effort to address the ethical and privacy concerns associated with AI voice technology.
OpenAI first launched ChatGPT in November 2022, and since then, the company has released several updates to enhance the product. The voice assistant was initially demonstrated in May, alongside other capabilities of the GPT-4o model, highlighting its ability to understand and respond to spoken prompts from users.
One aspect that remains undisclosed is the identity of the voice behind Sky. OpenAI has stated that it is crucial to maintain the privacy of its voice talents, revealing that it consulted with “industry-leading casting and directing professionals” to evaluate over 400 submissions before finalizing the five voice options. The company has indicated plans to introduce additional voice options in the future.
In a related note, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has a net worth estimated at $1 billion, though his wealth is not derived from OpenAI itself. Altman’s financial success comes from investments in various ventures, including Reddit, Stripe, and nuclear fusion startup Helion. Prior to OpenAI, Altman co-founded the social mapping company Loopt and served as partner and president at the startup accelerator Y Combinator.
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