OpenAI pulls Johansson soundalike Sky’s voice from ChatGPT
OpenAI’s decision to pull its “Sky” voice from ChatGPT after complaints it sounded like Scarlett Johansson has sparked debate over creator rights, consent, and the company’s judgment. Commenters question whether the similarity to Johansson and explicit “Her” references were intentional marketing, and whether this could expose OpenAI to legal risk around likeness and voice appropriation. Others focus on user impact and product design, criticizing the removal of a popular voice, the flirtatious tone of the assistant, and the broader pattern of AI firms pushing ethically and culturally sensitive boundaries for growth.
Perceived similarity to Johansson and Her
- Many listeners initially assumed OpenAI had licensed Scarlett Johansson’s Her voice; others hear only a generic “slightly flirty female” assistant.
- Several link demos and movie clips; reactions split between “extremely similar,” “somewhat similar,” and “not at all.”
- Some think it sounds closer to another actress; others say once Her is suggested, people “hear” the resemblance due to framing.
Legal and likeness questions
- Debate over whether voice similarity is a trademark vs. “appropriation of likeness” issue.
- Some argue celebrities control commercial use of their likeness/voice and can use litigation and discovery to force transparency.
- Others worry that requiring permission for any similar-sounding voice would harm lesser-known actors or people recreating their own voices for accessibility.
- Several speculate OpenAI likely received a legal threat and chose to pause Sky rather than fight.
User experience and product stability
- Some paying users are upset Sky was their only tolerable voice and see its removal as “breaking functionality” and eroding trust.
- Others respond that SaaS products routinely change features; if you want control, run local software.
Marketing, intent, and PR
- Many believe the Her association was intentional: references on social media, profile imagery, and the flirtatious tone are cited.
- A minority sees the pullback as largely media- or PR-driven rather than user-driven.
- Some see the incident as another example of “take first, apologize later” behavior by AI companies.
Gender, flirtation, and tone
- A number of comments focus less on Johansson and more on Sky’s breathy, flirtatious style, calling it cringeworthy or misogynistic.
- Others report Sky sounded “neutrally approachable” in actual use and not notably seductive.
Broader critiques of OpenAI and generative AI
- Several express disillusionment with OpenAI’s evolution from stated nonprofit ideals to profit- and hype-driven behavior.
- Others defend generative AI as transformative and view celebrity pushback as self-interested or hostile to technological progress.