House Committee Selects Scarlett Johansson to Lead Investigation into Artificial Intelligence

June 10, 2024 TruthUSA

A request has been extended to Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson by a congressional subcommittee to provide testimony on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology, specifically focusing on OpenAI’s ChatGPT assistant Sky, as reported by The Hill.

Scarlett Johansson, known for her roles in popular films like “Black Widow” and “Her,” has been asked to share her insights on July 9 at the House Oversight Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation hearing.

Chairing the subcommittee, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., aims to provide Johansson with a direct platform to express her concerns to Congress, emphasizing the importance of educating the public on deepfakes. The hearing intends to cover various issues related to the uses and potential misuses of deepfake technology.

This invitation to Johansson comes after her recent remarks about OpenAI’s ChatGPT assistant, Sky.

In a statement last month, the 39-year-old actress expressed surprise and disapproval upon hearing the AI’s voice, which she believed closely resembled her own. Johansson disclosed that despite declining a previous request from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to contribute her voice to an AI assistant, she was surprised by the similarity between her voice and the one used in the ChatGPT demonstration.

OpenAI, however, denied any intention of imitating Johansson’s voice with its Sky assistant and rejected the allegations of replication.

Although invited, a source close to Johansson revealed to ITK on Monday that the actress would be unable to attend the scheduled House subcommittee hearing in July as she would be traveling out of the country at that time.

Despite Johansson’s absence, the ongoing conversation on AI and deepfake technology’s ethical and societal implications will continue to progress. The upcoming session is set to provide valuable insights from experts and stakeholders as policymakers navigate the complex terrain of AI regulation and oversight.