Scarlett Johansson says OpenAI ripped off her voice after she told the company not to use it in software

Scarlett Johansson claims that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman utilized a voice identical to hers for its artificial intelligence voice software despite denying his invitation to use it.

The answer comes after OpenAI announced that it would pull its ChatGPT AI voice dubbed “Sky,” which debuted last week amid uproar over its resemblance to Johansson’s voice in the film “Her.”

Johansson stated that Altman approached her in September and again two days before it introduced ChatGPT-4o on May 13. The actor provided the voice for a character in the film “Her” about a man who develops feelings for Samantha, an AI virtual assistant.

“After much consideration and for personal reasons, I declined the offer,” Johansson told CNBC. “Nine months later, my friends, family and the general public all noted how much the newest system named ‘Sky’ sounded like me.”

Altman, who tweeted the mysterious term “her” on the day OpenAI unveiled its new AI, has denied the allegations.

“Sky’s voice is not Scarlett Johansson’s, and it was never intended to sound like her. “We cast the voice actor behind Sky’s voice before reaching out to Ms. Johansson,” Altman explained. “To show respect for Ms. Johansson, we have ceased using Sky’s voice in our goods. We apologize to Ms. Johansson for not communicating better.


The actor announced on Monday that she had retained legal counsel.

“When I heard the released demo, I was shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine that my closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference,” Johansson stated. “Mr. Altman even insinuated that the similarity was intentional, tweeting a single word ‘her.'”

Johansson has previously clashed with major corporations such as Disney. In 2021, Johansson and Walt Disney settled the “Black Widow” actor’s breach of contract case against the studio.

“We’ve had some questions about how we chose the voices in ChatGPT, particularly Sky,” Microsoft-backed OpenAI wrote on X on Monday.


“Sky’s voice is not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson’s, but rather belongs to a different professional actress using her own natural speaking voice,” the business stated in a blog post on Sunday. “To protect their privacy, we cannot share the names of our voice talents.”

Johansson stated that she wrote two letters to Altman and OpenAI, requesting them to explain the process of producing Sky.

“In a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe these are questions that deserve absolute clarity,” the statement reads. “I look forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected.”


OpenAI did not immediately react to a request for comment on the actor’s statement.

Here is Scarlett Johansson’s complete statement:

“Last September, I received an offer from Sam Altman to voice the current ChatGPT 4.0 system.” He told me that he believed that by expressing the system, I might bridge the gap between tech businesses and creatives, as well as assist customers feel more at ease about the seismic change between humans and AI. He said he thought my voice would be calming to others.

After careful consideration, and for personal reasons, I declined the offer. Nine months later, my friends, family, and the general public all commented on how much the new system called “Sky” sounded like me.


When I heard the leaked tape, I was astonished, angry, and disbelieving that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice so hauntingly similar to mine that my closest friends and press outlets couldn’t tell them apart. Mr. Altman even implied that the resemblance was deliberate, tweeting only the word “her” – a reference to the film in which I voiced Samantha, a chat system who develops an intimate bond with a person.

Mr. Altman contacted my agent two days before the ChatGPT 4.0 demo was launched, and he asked me to reconsider. Before we could connect, the system was already there.

As a result of their activities, I was forced to retain legal counsel, who sent two letters to Mr. Altman and OpenAI outlining what they had done and requesting that they explain the entire procedure by which they developed the “Sky” voice. Consequently, OpenAI reluctantly agreed to remove the “Sky” voice.

In an era when we are all dealing with deepfakes and the preservation of our own likeness, work, and identities, I feel these are issues that require full clarity. I’m looking forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of suitable laws to assist defend individual rights.”