Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson has publicly criticized leading artificial intelligence company OpenAI over the striking similarity between its ChatGPT voice assistant, “Sky,” and her own voice.
The 40-year-old Oscar nominee revealed that she had previously declined a request to lend her voice to the project, only to later hear a version that she says mimicked her vocal tone.
The controversy sparked renewed debate after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted the word “her” on social media during the assistant’s launch—widely interpreted as a nod to Johansson’s role in the 2013 film Her, where she voiced an emotionally intelligent AI.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Scarlett Johansson acknowledged that AI may assist with some technical elements of filmmaking but stressed that it cannot replicate genuine human emotion. “I just don’t believe the work I do can be done by AI,” she said. “I don’t believe the soulfulness of a performance can be replicated.”
Following mounting backlash and legal threats, OpenAI removed the Sky voice from ChatGPT, denying that it was ever intended to imitate Johansson.
This isn’t the first time Scarlett Johansson has voiced concerns about AI. Months earlier, a deepfake video using her likeness went viral, prompting the Black Widow star to call for stricter regulations on artificial intelligence. In a statement to People, she described the technology’s unchecked growth as a serious threat. “It is terrifying that the U.S. government is paralysed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of AI,” she said.
Scarlett Johansson also emphasized that AI misuse can significantly erode public trust, especially when it involves manipulating voices or appearances of public figures. Her latest comments have reignited conversations about AI ethics, digital consent, and the importance of protecting individual rights in an era of rapid technological advancement.
As AI continues to evolve, Johansson’s stand highlights a growing demand for transparency and responsible use of the technology across industries, especially entertainment.