Tech Bytes — Week in Review: Online extremism, Section 230, and ScarJo vs. OpenAI

Proceeding without permission is a time-tested practice in some corners of Silicon Valley. Well, it’s not working out so well for OpenAI. Actress Scarlett Johansson said this week the company approached her twice to voice a new AI assistant for ChatGPT-4o. She declined, only to find it had used a voice that sounds “eerily” like hers. Plus, on Capitol Hill, a House subcommittee held a hearing that could decide the future of Section 230, the provision that largely governs the internet today. We’ll explain why chatbots have entered the chat on Section 230’s future.

But first, a new report by former tech company officials and academic researchers finds far-right extremist militias are once again organizing on Facebook ahead of November’s presidential election. They recommend platforms ramp up content moderation to avoid fueling political violence. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali is joined by Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios, for her take on this week’s tech news.

More on everything we talked about

“Political consultant behind AI-generated Biden robocalls faces $6 million fine and criminal charges” from PBS News Hour

“How social media can avoid fueling another Jan. 6” from The Washington Post

“AI shakes up Section 230 debate” from Axios

“Section 230 co-author says the law doesn’t protect AI chatbots” from “Marketplace Tech“

“Actors union backs Scarlett Johansson after claim of voice misuse by OpenAI” from Reuters

“Scarlett Johansson says she is ‘shocked, angered’ over new ChatGPT voice” from NPR

“No Fakes Act wants to protect actors and singers from unauthorized AI replicas” from The Verge

“In Hollywood writers’ battle against AI, humans win (for now)” from the Associated Press

“Exactly how stupid was what OpenAI did to Scarlett Johansson?” from The Washington Post