that's because scarlett's voice is pretty generic white upper middle class woman with a hint of vocal fry, and a slight hint of california (pretty typical given pervasiveness of media from california).

She's not exactly gilbert gottfried or morgan freeman.

Now I'm just sad that it doesn't respond in a flirty Gilbert Gottfried style voice.

I heard this comment in my mind in a flirty Gilbert Gottfried voice.

Thank you for the laughter.

This is Gilbert Gottfriend reading 50 Shades of Grey.

https://youtu.be/XkLqAlIETkA?si=8nLtWaBwq3Swum1i

I'd like to hear her raw voice compared to the polished product. Listen to famous singers' acoustic vs. heavily audio-engineered final cuts. Big difference. I think if you played this OpenAI "Sky" voice to a sample population and said it was a famous person's voice, SA would come up frequently.

Scarlett Johansson is apparently so devious she managed to get OpenAI to reach out to her to license her voice and likeness.

She even set up the CEO by having him directly negotiate with her, which I’m sure he also did with the alleged small voice actor. Then she perfected her scheme by having that same CEO publicly tweet “her” - timed with the release of the voice product - referencing JS’s movie of the same name where she voiced a computer system with a personality.

She even managed to get OpenAI to take down the voice in OpenAI’s words “out of respect” for SJ while maintaining their legal defense publicly that the voice was not based on hers.

Is it illegal to hire a voice actor that sounds like Darth Vader? No. Is it illegal to hire a voice actor that sounds like Her? No. Would it be appealing to have SJ voice act for them? Sure. Does that mean it's illegal for another voice actor to (according to some) sound similar to a character from a poplar movie? No. All of these things can be true together

The issue isn’t hiring a voice actor to imitate someone, that can be fine. The issue is what you can do with the recordings after you have them.

Making a YouTube instructional view on how to imitate voices that includes clips of a film for example would be fine. Reusing the exact sounds from that YouTube video in a different context and you’re in legal trouble.

Right, but making a YouTube instructional video on how to imitate voices, where you only use the imitation voice, is fine. Which is closer to what happened here it seems like.

Illegal?

It probably isn’t criminal, which is what you seem to be asking, although it very well might be depending on the facts.

More importantly, under the available facts JA likely has a claim for civil damages under one of more causes of action. Her claims are so strong this will likely end up with a confidential settlement in an undisclosed sum without even needing to file a lawsuit. If she does file a lawsuit, there is still greater than 90% likelihood OpenAI settles before trial. In that less than 3% chance the case proceeds to a verdict, then you’ll have your answer without having to make bad arguments on HN.

> In that less than 3% chance the case proceeds to a verdict, then you’ll have your answer without having to make bad arguments on HN.

From the HN guidelines: Be kind. Don't be snarky. Converse curiously; don't cross-examine. Edit out swipes.

You should reread your comment I was replying to where you asked and (incorrectly) answered multiple rhetorical questions and reflect on the HN policy you cited.

Allow me to help you correct your answers:

>Is it illegal to hire a voice actor that sounds like Darth Vader? No.

Actually, yes it can be.

>Is it illegal to hire a voice actor that sounds like Her? No.

Once again it can be.

>Does that mean it's illegal for another voice actor to (according to some) sound similar to a character from a poplar movie? No.

Yet again it can be.

As a lawyer that’s been practicing for over 10 years, IP law and contract law is far more complex and nuanced that your rhetorical questions and answers suggest.

From the HN guidelines:

Be kind. Don't be snarky. Converse curiously; don't cross-examine. Edit out swipes.

Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive.

Please don't fulminate. Please don't sneer, including at the rest of the community.

Please respond to the strongest plausible interpretation of what someone says, not a weaker one that's easier to criticize. Assume good faith.

Have a nice day, or actually don't, since you're working one of the most evil professions there is ;)

You asked yourself questions and answered your own questions wrong, it’s not a big deal. Read the the HN guidelines and as they say try to be more curious, there’s really no need to walk through life so angry and bitter when you are wrong.

Also rest assured evil lawyers are not the source of your problem. Maybe one day if you and your IP/likeness get ripped off like OpenAI did to SJ, you’ll find lawyers aren’t so evil after all. Maybe you will come to realize for every evil lawyer there is always lawyer fighting on the other side against that evil.

Once again what do I know, I’m an evil lawyer that does pro bono legal services for children that have been abused, abandoned and neglected as well as victims of torture at the hands of foreign governments as part of my evil profession.

Good luck to you!

SJ doesn't know who the voice actor is. Her objection is with OpenAI's actions.

Why would she?

I can't read minds unfortunately.