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Scarlett Johansson is speaking out against OpenAI for using a voice that closely resembles hers in their latest ChatGPT system. The actress revealed that she had declined the company’s offer to use her voice back in September, citing personal reasons for her decision.

In a statement to ABC News, Johansson expressed her shock and anger upon hearing the Sky demo, noting that the voice was so similar to hers that even her closest friends and news outlets couldn’t tell the difference. She accused OpenAI founder Sam Altman of insinuating that the similarity was intentional, pointing to a post he made referencing her movie “Her,” in which she voiced a similar chat system.

Johansson revealed that her agent was contacted before the ChatGPT launch to reconsider her decision, but the system went live before she could respond. As a result, she was forced to hire legal counsel to address the situation, leading OpenAI to reluctantly agree to take down the ‘Sky’ voice.

The actress emphasized the importance of protecting individual rights in the face of deepfakes and the misuse of likeness, calling for transparency and appropriate legislation to safeguard identities. In response, Altman denied that Sky was based on Johansson’s voice, stating that they had cast a voice actor before reaching out to the actress.

OpenAI has since paused using the Sky voice in their products and apologized to Johansson for the lack of communication. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of protecting personal identities and the need for clear regulations in the digital age.