Congress is seeking testimony from Scarlett Johansson after the Hollywood star accused OpenAI of using a ChatGPT voice that sounded “eerily similar” to her own despite no deal between them. A letter sent last week invited Johansson to appear for a Capitol Hill hearing before a House Technology Subcommittee chaired by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC). “You recently expressed concerns via social media about the resemblance between your own voice and that of the ‘Sky’ chatbot, recently released as part of OpenAl’s GPT- 40 update,” Mace wrote. “This hearing would provide a platform for you to share those concerns with House Members, and to inform the broader public debate concerning deepfakes,” she added. Mace’s office told Axios, which first reported the letter on Monday, that Johansson is unable to make the proposed date of July 9 and would likely be available sometime in October. Johansson, who voiced an AI chat system in the 2013 film “Her,” said in May she was “shocked, angered and in disbelief” upon the reveal of a ChatGPT voice that sounded “eerily similar” to hers. The actress said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had asked her to provide a voice for the feature, but she declined and so she hired lawyers to reach out to OpenAI when a similar voice feature came out. OpenAI denied its “Sky” voice was an imitation of Johansson’s voice, insisting it was instead developed with a different professional actress using her “own natural speaking voice.” Separately, Altman apologized to Johansson “that we didn’t communicate better. He also said, “Out of respect for Ms. Johansson, we have paused using Sky’s voice in our products.” In ending her statement about the voice controversy, Johansson also called for more work to be done to address issues associated with advancing technologies beyond just artificial intelligence. “In a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe these are questions that deserve absolute clarity,” she said. “I look forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected,” Johansson concluded.

The Biden administration has unveiled a series of policies aimed at addressing the ongoing housing crisis in the United States, but critics argue these measures may exacerbate existing problems rather than solve them. Key initiatives include significant investments in affordable housing and regulatory changes intended to increase housing supply. One of the cornerstone efforts is the Housing Supply Action Plan, which aims to increase affordable housing stock by addressing regulatory barriers and expanding financial incentives. This plan includes measures to support the conversion of high-vacancy commercial buildings to residential use and incentives for local governments to adopt less restrictive zoning policies​​. Biden came to Nevada to promote his plan to give tax dollars to people facing high housing prices (which would only further inflate the cost of housing). Biden is wrong. The solution to the housing crisis is less government, not more. https://t.co/bUIOKINiOE — Drew Johnson (@DrewForNevada) March 20, 2024 Despite these initiatives, critics, including Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), contend that the administration's focus on environmental regulations over practical affordability measures is misplaced. Rubio specifically criticized new energy-efficiency standards for homes, which he claims could increase costs by up to $31,000 per home, disproportionately affecting first-time homebuyers​. A prime example of ELECTION having CONSEQUENCES! WATCH: Senator Kennedy SLAMS Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Adrianne Todman for Biden’s new energy rules, which are projected to increase the cost of home construction by $31,000, on top of a 28% rise in the… pic.twitter.com/5gV8rxJ659 — I Meme Therefore I Am (@ImMeme0) May 1, 2024 Furthermore, the administration's broader economic policies, which include significant spending on housing, have been blamed for contributing to inflation. This inflation, combined with rising interest rates, has made it even more difficult for Americans to afford homes​​. The administration's approach also includes a $10,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit and efforts to streamline federal financing for new housing projects. President Biden and his advisors have emphasized the need to "build, build, build" to increase housing supply and reduce costs​. While these policies are intended to alleviate housing shortages, experts argue that without additional federal resources and significant changes at the local level, such as zoning reform, the impact may be limited. The success of these measures heavily depends on local governments' willingness to implement the recommended changes​​. As the 2024 election approaches, the administration's housing policies are likely to be a significant point of contention. With half of America's renters unable to afford their rent and a large portion of would-be homeowners priced out of the market, the effectiveness of Biden's strategies will be closely scrutinized by both political opponents and the public​. The post Biden Administration’s Radical Housing Policies Could Disrupt Market appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

Becoming a father saved AGT judge Simon Cowell from the darkest time of his life. Simon opened up about the extreme depression he experienced following the death of his mother, Julie, in 2015 while speaking on The Diary Of A CEO podcast. The former American Idol judge admitted that the experience added to the unprocessed grief of losing his father 15 years earlier, and he felt that life had become meaningless.   “I think particularly, when I lost my mum, I was on a downward spiral at that point,” he shared. “I lost everyone, you know. I’ve lost my parents. It’s finality now. What I said about the material things I’ve got, everything just meant nothing at that point.” To escape the desperation, Simon Cowell lost himself in work. While that only pushed him further into his sadness, he became “addicted” to the “vampire” lifestyle. “I was desperately unhappy. I wasn’t particularly enjoying my work. And I just thought, “You know what? I’m just going to become a vampire then,” and I would work through until 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning,” he added. “I would wake up at 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon, and I actually got addicted to that kind of lifestyle.” “I just loved the intensity,” Simon continued. “It was almost like because of the loss I’d had, I’ve got to find something else to fill it. And it was I’m just going to be a ridiculous workaholic, and I was very successful, but I wasn’t happy, I really, really wasn’t happy.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Simon Cowell (@simoncowell) Simon Cowell Got a Surprising Phone Call That “Changed Everything” Fortunately, a surprising phone call from his fiance, Lauren Silverman “changed everything.” Simon learned he was going to become a father, and the thought of having a family immediately gave him something to live for. “It made me happy again,” he admitted. Lauren and Simon welcomed their son, Eric, named after Simon’s late father, on Valentine’s Day in 2014. The now 10-year-old “saved” Simon “without question.” Simon Cowell said he went from “dying inside” to finding joy in living for another person and watching them grow. “I remember the first time I watched Jungle Book [with him],” he recalled. “And I’m looking over and seeing the joy he had watching that movie. It was like, ‘Oh my God I remember how I felt when I saw The Jungle Book.'” This story’s featured image is by David Livingston/Getty Images. The post “AGT” Judge Simon Cowell Says Becoming A Dad “Without Question” Saved His Life appeared first on InspireMore.

A post shared on social media purports that commentator Keith Olbermann called for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to be “in a cage.”  Verdict: False The claim stems from a parody account. Fact Check: Thomas disclosed two trips he took with Harlan Crow in 2019, one destination was Bali, CBS News reported. Justice Katanji Brown Jackson accepted concert […]

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