OpenAI, the renowned artificial intelligence research lab, made headlines this week as it announced the removal of the voice named Sky from its new GPT-4o model. Users had pointed out that the voice bore a striking resemblance to Scarlett Johansson’s AI character in the movie “Her.” The actress herself expressed concern and revealed that she had hired legal counsel to investigate the matter. Although OpenAI denied basing the voice on Johansson’s, she disclosed that the company had previously approached her about using her voice for the model.
In another major development, the U.S. Department of Justice, along with 30 state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, the parent company of Ticketmaster, for alleged monopolistic practices. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland accused Live Nation of stifling competition in the industry. This legal action follows scrutiny over the company’s control in the wake of Taylor Swift fans facing difficulties purchasing tickets for her Eras tour.
Techstars, a prominent startup accelerator, also experienced a significant shakeup this week. CEO Maëlle Gavet announced her departure from the company, with co-founder David Cohen stepping in to replace her. Gavet’s leadership style had been a subject of controversy, with reports of a toxic work environment leading to a notable exodus of employees.
These events underscore the ongoing challenges and controversies in the tech and entertainment industries, highlighting the complexities and power dynamics at play in these sectors. Stay tuned for more updates on these evolving stories.