OpenAI has announced plans to remove the "Sky" voice option from its ChatGPT platform following user observations likening it to the voice of Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson.
As per BBC, the voice, which reads responses aloud to users, drew comparisons to Johansson's portrayal in the film Her.
According to OpenAI, the voices available in ChatGPT's voice mode were carefully selected thorough selection process lasting five months, which included collaboration with professional voice actors, talent agencies, casting directors, and industry advisors.
The company emphasised that the intention was not to imitate the star.
"We believe that AI voices should not deliberately mimic a celebrity's distinctive voice," it said in a blog post.
The firm said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that it is "working to pause" the voice while it addresses questions about how it was chosen.
However, the decision to pause the "Sky" voice comes as OpenAI addresses questions about its selection process.
The company clarified that the voices used in its chatbot were sampled from voice actors with specific characteristics such as multilingualism and an approachable demeanor.
While, the advanced voice features showcased at a recent event have yet to be rolled out to users, OpenAI plans to make them available to subscribers in the near future for faster responses and priority access to new features.
