undefined | Better HN

0 pointshbn2y ago0 comments

OpenAI didn't want their voice to sound like Scarlett Johansson, they wanted it to sound like Samantha from Her. Does Warner Brothers have a right to AI voices that sound like Scarlett Johansson? Shouldn't it be them suing?

What if she wasn't doing her own voice? Many actors have voiced characters not in their own voice over the years. Does Elmo's original voice actor own Elmo's voice or is it whoever owns Sesame Street?

I'm not necessarily making any assertions, I'm genuinely asking cause I don't know what kind of precedent is here. Though personally I'm not convinced of the case against OpenAI, other than bad optics from Altman.

0 comments

2 comments · 2 top-level

bluefirebrand2y ago

> OpenAI didn't want their voice to sound like Scarlett Johansson, they wanted it to sound like Samantha from Her

That is likely the case they would try to make if they went to court. But this likely will be settled out of court if there's anything there

OpenAI trying to contract Scarlett twice would likely put a big damper on the "We didn't want it to sound like her, we wanted it to sound like the character" too

It's definitely not cut and dry

bazoom422y ago

The “smoking gun” is they (allegedly) reached out to Johansson, which shows it is her voice they were interested in. If they wanted to use the character they should have reach out to WB, but it is likely Johansson still have som say in how her act is used. A major point of contention in the recent actors strike was about to what extent studios could use ai models based on a performance.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse