Elon Musk has added fuel to the fire in the ongoing dispute between actress Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI, a company co-founded by his tech rival Sam Altman. Musk's comments come in the wake of Johansson's criticism of OpenAI for using a voice eerily similar to hers for their AI assistant, ChatGPT.
Scarlett Johansson, well-known for her roles in films like "Ghost in the Shell" and "Her," has recently found herself embroiled in a controversy with OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research lab. The actress publicly criticized the company after its latest AI model, GPT-4o, featured a voice that many noted bore a striking resemblance to her own. Johansson revealed she had declined an offer from OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman to lend her voice to ChatGPT, expressing her shock and anger over the use of a similar voice without her consent.
Enter Elon Musk, who couldn't resist taking a jab at his longtime adversary Sam Altman and OpenAI. Musk took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to voice his opinion, likening the situation to an episode of the dystopian TV series "Black Mirror." "Black Mirror irl," Musk commented, referencing the eerie nature of the AI voice debacle.
Musk’s involvement in the dispute is not just a matter of passing interest. He has a long history with OpenAI, being one of its original founding members before stepping down from the board in 2018. Since then, Musk has been a vocal critic of the company, even filing a lawsuit against Altman and OpenAI earlier this year. The lawsuit accuses OpenAI of straying from its original mission of developing artificial general intelligence in a responsible and ethical manner.
In response to the controversy, Sam Altman attempted to clarify the situation. He posted the word "her" on X, fueling speculation about the intentionality of the voice’s resemblance to Johansson’s character in the movie "Her," where she plays an AI assistant. OpenAI executives, however, denied that the likeness was deliberate, stating that the voice, dubbed "Sky," was not meant to mimic Johansson’s.
Despite these denials, the backlash was swift. OpenAI announced that the Sky voice would be temporarily removed, a move that seemed to acknowledge the severity of the public's reaction and Johansson’s grievances. In a statement, Altman apologized to Johansson for the miscommunication, but maintained that the voice’s similarity to hers was coincidental.
Adding to the turmoil, former OpenAI executive Jan Leike resigned last week, criticizing the company for prioritizing "shiny products" over safety. Leike’s departure highlights the growing internal and external pressures facing OpenAI as it navigates the complex landscape of AI development and public perception.
Musk didn’t stop at critiquing OpenAI alone. He also took aim at Microsoft's new AI feature called "Recall," comparing it to another "Black Mirror" episode and humorously stating on X that he would "definitely turn this 'feature' off." This comment further demonstrates Musk’s ongoing skepticism and critical stance towards emerging AI technologies and the companies behind them.
The unfolding drama between Johansson, OpenAI, and Musk paints a vivid picture of the intersection between celebrity influence, AI ethics, and tech rivalries. As AI continues to evolve and integrate into various aspects of life, such disputes underscore the importance of transparency, consent, and ethical considerations in technology development.
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Vertical Bar Media
For more insights on the latest in AI and technology disputes, visit Vertical Bar Media.
Source: Business Insider
For more insights on the latest in AI and technology disputes, visit Vertical Bar Media.
Source: Business Insider
Photo Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
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