- OpenAI quietly purchased a small startup, Weights.gg, that offered AI tools to create clones of people’s voices.
- Weights.gg worked as a social network for creating and sharing AI algorithms that could clone voices.
- Taylor Swift has filed applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark her voice and likeness.
- OpenAI has run afoul of copyright issues in the past.
- It is unclear what OpenAI plans to do with the Weights.gg team and technology.
OpenAI has acquired Weights.gg, a startup focused on voice cloning technology, in a move that could expand its capabilities in the AI space. The acquisition, confirmed by anonymous sources, reflects OpenAI's ongoing interest in advanced AI tools despite previous copyright challenges.14
Weights.gg was known for its free consumer app called Replay, which allowed users to clone voices, serving as a social network for AI algorithms. The unresolved fate of the Weights.gg team and the future of its technology has raised questions among stakeholders.2
Additionally, the timing of the acquisition coincides with Swift's recent efforts to trademark her voice and likeness, highlighting the complex interplay between technology and copyright, and underscoring that OpenAI must navigate potential copyright issues in the voice cloning domain.5
As OpenAI continues to innovate, the company’s direction regarding Weights.gg could significantly influence the landscape of AI-driven voice technology.
“OpenAI has acquired Weights.gg, which provided AI tools for voice cloning. The future direction for the company’s technology remains uncertain.”
Context on voice cloning and copyright issues
OpenAI has faced copyright issues in the past, which may relate to the technologies developed by Weights.gg. Swift recently filed applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark her voice and likeness, highlighting the legal complexities surrounding voice cloning technology.
The Indian Express