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Secret OpenAI Deal: Voice Cloning Startup Acquired
16 May
Summary
- OpenAI acquired the voice-cloning startup Weights.gg recently.
- Weights.gg allowed users to clone celebrity and public figure voices.
- OpenAI previously expressed caution about releasing similar technology.
OpenAI has recently acquired Weights.gg, a startup known for its AI-powered voice-cloning tools. The acquisition, which has not been publicly announced, includes the company's team and intellectual property. Weights.gg operated a platform where users could create and share AI algorithms, including voice clones of notable figures like Taylor Swift and President Biden, using its Replay app.
This acquisition comes years after OpenAI detailed its own advanced voice replication technology but decided against public release due to ethical concerns. Despite these prior reservations, OpenAI continued developing the technology. Weights.gg, which had raised approximately $4 million in venture capital, ceased its services in March.
While OpenAI has not disclosed its plans for the acquired technology, employees have been integrated into different teams within the company. OpenAI has recently focused on revenue-generating products and integrating its voice technology into services like ChatGPT for Apple CarPlay and through its API for third-party developers, rather than releasing standalone voice-cloning tools.
