Scarlett Johansson Says ‘I Don’t Hold a Grudge’ Against Disney After ‘Black Widow’ Legal Battle, Thinks OpenAI CEO Could Be a Marvel Villain: ‘Maybe With a Robotic Arm’

As a devoted cinephile and follower of Hollywood news, I cannot help but be intrigued by Scarlett Johansson‘s recent interviews. Her experiences with Disney, OpenAI, and her own values have painted an interesting picture of her life both on and off the screen.


In my perspective, I didn’t harbor any resentment. I believed it was a mistake brought about by misguided decisions and inadequate leadership back then. To be honest, the entire situation struck me as unprofessional and left me feeling quite disillusioned. I had held on to the belief that things would improve until my team finally urged me to take action.

Disney escalated the court dispute by disclosing Johansson’s earnings of $20 million for “Black Widow” production and criticizing her insensitivity towards the severe and long-lasting consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in her lawsuit.

Previously, Johansson shared with EbMaster that she felt predominantly sad about the legal dispute with Disney. She further expressed, “It was an incredibly bizarre experience because we were all secluded and beginning to emerge slightly. At the same time, I was heavily pregnant which added an unexpected layer of complexity. The arrival of a new life provided me with the most incredible distraction, and soon after, I welcomed a beautiful baby into the world.”

Scarlett Johansson may harbor no ill feelings towards Disney, but she could have issues with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. In May, they became embroiled in a public spat when OpenAI appeared to replicate Johansson’s voice for ChatGPT’s AI character “Sky,” drawing comparisons to her role in the movie “Her.” After facing criticism, OpenAI removed the voice and insisted that “Sky” didn’t imitate Johansson, but rather used a separate actress’ natural voice.

Johansson expressed her surprise and annoyance in a statement, sharing that she was taken aback when OpenAI used her voice without her consent for their ChatGPT system, despite her declining their offer to be its voice actor. She affirmed that her legal team had reached out to OpenAI to request the removal of this replicated voice, identified as Sky.

According to Johansson’s account, Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, contacted her in September 2023 with a job offer for providing ChatGPT 4.0’s voice. She refused due to personal reasons, but he subsequently approached her agent and urged her to reconsider. However, before they could arrange a conversation, the system was already made public.

In an interview with The New York Times, Johansson expressed her surprise and annoyance at finding herself involved in the AI discussion, having deliberately stayed away from it before. She exclaimed, “I couldn’t believe it! How did this happen to me?”

If someone questioned whether Altman could portray a Marvel antagonist, the actor casually replied, “Well, I suppose so. perhaps equipped with a mechanical limb.”

“Johansson expressed her discomfort in being the main figure for OpenAI’s proposal. It clashed with her personal beliefs, leading her to keep it a secret from everyone except her spouse.”

“I also felt for my children it would be strange. I try to be mindful of them,” Johansson added.

The actor described the prevalence of AI-generated deepfakes and duplicates as a “disconcerting abyss from which there is no easy escape.” He continued, “When you attempt to remove something in one place, it seemingly reappears elsewhere. Various nations have distinct laws and regulations. If your former partner disseminates revenge porn using deepfakes, your entire life could be irreparably damaged.”

She remarked that human ego struggles to keep pace with the rapid advancement of technologies, resulting in noticeable impacts, particularly among the younger generation. Technological progress appears as an unstoppable surge, much like a massive wave.

Johansson has been giving interviews to the media recently, promoting her new romantic comedy “Fly Me to the Moon,” which is now showing in cinemas. At present, she’s filming the next installment of “Jurassic World” in Thailand.

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2024-07-17 17:47