Scarlett Johansson honored in TIME100 2024 list for her fight against unauthorized use of AI |

TIME Magazine has released the second edition of its TIME100 AI list, which highlights 100 influential people shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Among the notable names this year was Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson.
The star was honored for her vocal opposition to the unauthorized use of AI to mimic her voice, image and likenesses. The list, which honors AI pioneers, regulators and activists, includes those who are pushing for stricter regulations to prevent the distribution of non-consensual AI-generated images and Deepfakes – Translation.

Johansson's inclusion comes after her public dispute with OpenAI, which escalated when the company allegedly released a voice eerily similar to hers for its chatbot ChatGPT, despite her refusal to cooperate. Johansson's legal team promptly addressed the issue and demanded the voice be removed.

Although OpenAI denied any wrongdoing and claimed the voice belonged to another actor, the company eventually took the bot offline after a heated backlash. Johansson's case has highlighted broader concerns about protecting identities in an age of rampant AI replication. TIME described her as “the most prominent public figure in a growing group raising concerns about the company's growth and security tactics.”

In response to the incident, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz called for stricter regulations and introduced a bill to educate the public on how to detect deepfakes and ensure the protection of individuals' voices and images in the digital age. Johansson's commitment underscores the growing need for legal protections as AI advances.
The only other actor on the list was Bollywood star Anil Kapoor, who has also been vocal in criticizing the misuse of celebrity likenesses by AI. He was honored for raising awareness about the ethical implications of deepfake technology. The actor won a landmark victory in the Delhi High Court over the unauthorized use of his likeness by AI.