In a sign of litigation to come, Scarlett Johansson sues AI app over use of likeness
Johansson is suing something called Lisa AI: 90s Yearbook & Avatar for using her name and likeness in an ad
Aux News Scarlett Johansson
The ScarJos are always the first to know. Years after she broke new ground by suing Disney for its Black Widow day-and-date debacle, Johansson is now among the first celebrities to sue an AI company for using her likeness.
The app in question is called “Lisa AI: Yearbook and Avatar.” Primarily used for something called the ‘90s Yearbook Challenge, the app allows users to post airbrushed photos of themselves in front of a blue or grey background.
“What’s up, guys? It’s Scarlett, and I want you to come with me,” the ad begins, using actual footage of Johansson before slipping into an uncanny approximation of the actor. “It’s not limited to avatars only. You can also create images with texts and even your AI videos. I think you shouldn’t miss it.”
“Images produced by Lisa AI,” the ad’s disclaimer reads. “It has nothing to do with this person.”
While we assume that “likeness” is used loosely and that Johansson’s artificially generated doppelganger has far more teeth and fingers than the actor, that hasn’t slowed her resolve. “We do not take these things lightly. Per our usual course of action in these circumstances, we will deal with it with all legal remedies that we will have,” Johansson’s attorney, Kevin Yorn, told Variety.
The 22-second ad appeared on—where else—the crumbling social media app formerly known as Twitter, where advertising regulations have collapsed since the billionaire son of an emerald mine owner who thinks Blade Runner is about a guy named Bladerunner bought the company. Perhaps due to litigation, the commercial has been scrubbed from the internet.
This won’t be the last time a celebrity sues an artificial intelligence company for using their likeness without permission. Still, it’s a perfect life hack for entrepreneurs looking to bankrupt their company before it gets off the ground.
31 Comments
Oh, the irony…
I know ! Missed opportunity not mentioning this in the article!
How was the writer supposed to know about a movie that came out before he was born?
Imagine thinking that’s irony…
How they missed this in the write up is beyond me.
I’m coming to realise that I may not always agree with Johansson’s views as a person, but I’ve always enjoyed her acting and I absolutely support her actions to protect her business interests.
You’re so brave.
Are you under the impression that I was seeking applause for my comment or something? I was just expressing an opinion, here in the opinion-expressing section of an entertainment blog. Sorry that seems to have bothered you.
Nah, he’s just a cunt.
Stop! The internet can’t take any more bravery!
Sounds a lot like what that Reocognitions troll constantly writes.
MAGA detected
ScarJo is good with a good script. But without, I could see her being worried an AI version of her could out-act her relatively soon.
I’m not the biggest fan but I thought she was good in Lucy. Or maybe it was just a very good film and anyone could have done it.
our litigious qween
i can’t stand her acting, but i agree with you. hopefully her litigation will be beneficial to others who don’t have the same clout.
Of all the potential uses of AI regarding Scarlet Johansson, this one (while not great) didn’t strike me as the one I figured she would take most offense to.
It’s the one being operated by an LLC that’s making an attempt at ligitmacy and isn’t behind 5 proxies leading to a shell corp in Siberia, therefore it’s somebody her lawyers can actually serve notice too.
That’s because this isn’t a “potential” use, shitfuck.
You can’t sue people for “potential uses.”
Oh, I don’t think they meant potential. I presume there are several underground sites where “AI ScarJo” can be seen in alllllll her glory.
“Images produced by Lisa AI,” the ad’s disclaimer reads. “It has nothing to do with this person.”
There’s no way Scarlett’s attorneys will be able to outmaneuver this air-tight disclaimer.
This seems like the flimsiest disclaimer I’ve ever seen. Nothing to do with this person…who we won’t name because then it’s obvious that it’s this person…who we have nothing to do with.
There is also a custom mod for the CyberPunk 2077 game that replaces the female antagonist voice with a AI voice clone of Scarletts’
…Her?
Haha get it!? Arrested Development reference AND there was that movie where she played an AI!
When you explain the joke it’s not funny, like it even was in the first place
idk, I got some respect for this woman for being litigious and laying out money for issues that may have consequences for others in the industry.
Ultron’s on-set behavior taught her the dangers of AI.
If it were AI of Scarlett playing an Asian she would be ok with it.
tech companies are cancer
Wow these guys are complete dipshits.Leaving aside the AI thing, you can’t even use real images of celebrities in fucking *commercials* without their permission. Did they think she wouldn’t notice?