Expert comment: 'Scarlett Johansson' AI voicebot

Dr Dominic Lees, a deepfake expert at the University of Reading's department of film, theatre and television, comments after OpenAI suspended the use of a voicebot that sounds similar to the voice of actor Scarlett Johansson. He said: 

 

"Creating a voice bot mimicking Scarlett Johansson without her agreement or involvement would raise some serious ethical and legal concerns. It would infringe on her privacy and intellectual property rights, and could be seen as exploiting her distinct voice without her consent. 

 

"We have seen in other cases concerns about how 'cloning' an actor's voice or image could undermine their ability to make a living, and can cause considerable distress.

 

"AI developers need to be careful. High-profile cases like this demonstrate the many problems that can be caused through the misuse of deepfake technology, and highlights calls for new regulations to protect individuals from unauthorised digital replication. Ethical AI development should prioritise consent, transparency, and respect for personal rights to prevent exploitation and preserve public trust."