Top Tech News of the Week in 2024

Scarlett Johansson’s Voice-Imitation Allegations Against OpenAI

Hollywood superstar Scarlett Johansson has accused leading AI research company OpenAI of using her voice without her consent. The allegations stem from OpenAI’s advanced language model, ChatGPT, which features a voice assistant named “Sky.” Johansson claims that Sky’s voice bears a striking resemblance to her own and alleges that OpenAI never sought her permission to use it.

OpenAI has vehemently denied the allegations and has since removed the Sky voice from ChatGPT. The company maintains that the voice was created using a synthetic dataset of various speakers and not based on any specific individual. However, Johansson’s claims have raised concerns about the ethics of AI voice replication and the potential for misuse of personal data.

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Google AI Search’s Questionable Suggestions

Google’s AI-powered search engine has come under fire for providing questionable and potentially harmful suggestions to users. In recent incidents, the search engine’s AI-generated overviews have recommended eating rocks for digestive health and adding toxic glue to pizza to achieve a “tacky” sauce.

Google has acknowledged these issues and claims that the suggestions were either doctored or unreproducible. The company has taken steps to improve the accuracy and reliability of its AI search results, including investing in human fact-checkers to review and refine the information presented to users.

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Scarlett Johansson’s Voice-Imitation Allegations Against OpenAI

In a shocking turn of events, Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson has accused OpenAI of replicating her voice without her consent. Johansson claims that OpenAI’s ChatGPT system, specifically its “Sky” voice, bears an uncanny resemblance to her own. She alleges that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman approached her in 2022 with a request to use her voice for the system, which she declined. Despite her refusal, Johansson asserts that OpenAI went ahead and created a voice that sounded “eerily similar” to hers.

OpenAI has strongly denied the allegations, stating that the “Sky” voice was created using a proprietary AI model and was not based on any specific individual. The company has since removed the voice from ChatGPT.

Johansson’s accusations have sparked a debate about the ethical implications of AI-generated speech. Critics argue that OpenAI’s actions constitute a violation of Johansson’s right to publicity and could set a dangerous precedent for the use of AI to imitate human voices without consent.

Google AI Search’s Questionable Suggestions

Google AI Search has come under fire for providing questionable suggestions to users. The system’s AI overviews feature has been found to recommend bizarre and potentially harmful actions, such as eating rocks for digestive health and adding glue to pizza to make the sauce more “tacky.”

Google has acknowledged the issue and claims that the questionable suggestions were either doctored or unreproducible. The company has since taken steps to improve the accuracy and reliability of its AI suggestions.

The incident has raised concerns about the potential for AI systems to spread misinformation and potentially endanger users. It highlights the need for ongoing oversight and regulation of AI technology.

Truecaller’s AI-Powered Voice Replication Feature

Truecaller has introduced a new feature that allows users to create a digital version of their own voice. Powered by Microsoft Azure AI speech technology, the feature enables users to record their voice for a few seconds and use it to greet callers and identify the purpose of their call.

The feature is designed to enhance privacy and convenience, especially for users who receive frequent calls from unknown numbers. It also has the potential to improve accessibility for individuals with speech impairments.

However, some experts have expressed concerns about the potential misuse of the feature. They argue that it could be used for impersonation or fraud, and that users should exercise caution when using it.

Microsoft Unveils AI PCs and Team Copilot

Microsoft has unveiled a new line of Copilot AI PCs powered by Snapdragon X Elite chipsets. The PCs are designed to offer improved performance and battery life compared to competitors like the MacBook Air with the M3 chipset.

In addition, Microsoft has introduced a new version of its Copilot AI assistant called Team Copilot. Team Copilot is designed to enhance group collaboration by taking notes, summarizing key points, and tracking deadlines.

These new offerings from Microsoft demonstrate the company’s continued commitment to AI innovation. They have the potential to transform the way we work and interact with technology.

WhatsApp’s Potential AI-Generated Profile Picture Feature

WABetaInfo has reported that WhatsApp may be working on an AI-powered feature to generate profile pictures for users. The feature would allow users to input text prompts into an AI image generator, which would then create a personalized profile picture based on the prompts.

The feature is still in the early stages of development, and no official announcement has been made by WhatsApp. However, if implemented, it could provide users with a new and creative way to express themselves on the platform.

It is important to note that AI-generated images can sometimes contain biases or inaccuracies. Therefore, it will be crucial for WhatsApp to ensure that the AI model used for this feature is both accurate and unbiased.

Conclusion

The tech world continues to evolve at a rapid pace, bringing both exciting innovations and challenges. From the ethical implications of AI-generated speech to the potential benefits of AI-powered features, the news this week has highlighted the transformative power of technology.

As we move forward, it is essential to embrace the advancements that AI offers while also addressing the potential risks and ethical concerns. By striking the right balance, we can harness the power of AI to create a better future for all.