Spotify Scrapped Its Car Thing and Scarlett Johansson Alleged OpenAI Mimicked Her Voice in This Week’s Tech Roundup

Sonos also launched its first pair of headphones.

Tech & Gadgets 
895 Hypes 0 Comments

You are reading your free article for this month.
Members-only

This week in tech, all eyes were on OpenAI as Scarlett Johansson published a public statement alleging that the company mimicked her voice for ChatGPT, an allegation CEO Sam Altman denied.

On the product side, Leica launched the compact, versatile camera, the Leica D-Lux 8. Sonos, meanwhile, made its long-awaited debut in the headphones space with the over-ear Sonos Ace.

Spotify also caught some flack when it announced that it would be scrapping its Car Thing entertainment console attachment, not merely discontinuing the device but making all existing Car Things completely unusable.

Below, Hypebeast has rounded up the top tech stories of the week so you can stay up to date on trends in the industry.

Leica Unveiled the Compact Yet Powerful D-Lux 8

Leica is building out its D-Lux lineup with the new Leica D-Lux 8. The compact camera comes with a 4/3” CMOS sensor with 21 MP, billed for both amateur photographers and professionals alike.

While the camera features a vintage aesthetic, it’s surprisingly cutting-edge, and compatible with the Leica FOTOS app. It also comes with a Summilux 10.9–34 mm f/1.7–2.8 ASPH lens, ideal for those who want a fast aperture and the ability to zoom in while retaining image clarity.

Priced at $1,840 USD, the Leica D-Lux 8 will be available online and in stores on July 2.

Spotify Is Scrapping Its ‘Car Thing’ for Good

Spotify is doing away with its Car Thing. The brick-like music streaming device essentially acts as a plug-in entertainment center for cars that don’t already have one, albeit its only purpose is to navigate the Spotify app.

Car Thing was launched in February 2022 but production of the hardware ceased less than a year later. The streaming service is now scrapping Car Thing entirely by making it unusable – Car Things will no longer be functional by December.

“We understand it may be disappointing, but this decision allows us to focus on developing new features and enhancements that will ultimately provide a better experience to all Spotify users,” the company said in an FAQ, also noting that they “recommend resetting your Car Thing to factory settings and safely disposing of your device following local electronic waste guidelines.”

Sonos (Finally) Announced Its First-Ever Headphones, the Sonos Ace

After upwards of 20 years in the audio industry, Sonos has rolled out its first ever pair of headphones. It’s hard to believe one of the leading smart audio manufacturers has been around for so long without dipping into the headphones space, making the launch of the Sonos Ace long overdue.

The minimalist, lightweight headphones are fittingly described by the brand as offering “the most precise and immersive home theater experience possible.” Arriving in black and white colorways, the high-resolution headphones can be folded into a compact configuration for convenient storage and pack a 30-hour battery life.

The new Sonos Ace headphones will officially be up for sale on June 5 and are priced at $449 USD.

Scarlett Johansson Claimed OpenAI Mimicked Her Voice for ChatGPT After She Declined Their Offer

Scarlett Johansson shared a public statement in which she alleges that OpenAI mimicked her voice for ChatGPT’s “Sky” assistant. The actress said that CEO Sam Altman had approached her back in September to be the voice of ChatGPT 4.0, but that she decided to turn down the opportunity. When the assistant was released, however, many automatically assumed the voice belonged to Johansson.

“When I heard the released demo, I was shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine that my closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference,” she wrote.

Although OpenAI eventually agreed to take the voice down, the actress said “was forced to hire legal counsel” who wrote letters to Altman and the OpenAI asking them how they created the voice of Sky. Altman responded to the situation, telling The Verge that the company used a voice actor to record Sky and that the voice wasn’t intended to resemble Johansson’s own.

Read Full Article

What to Read Next

Apple Scrapped its Electric Car in This Week's Tech Roundup
Tech & Gadgets 

Apple Scrapped its Electric Car in This Week's Tech Roundup

Elon Musk also sued OpenAI and its founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman.

Apple Announced an iPad Pro With the M4 Chip and TikTok Sued the US Government in This Week’s Tech Roundup
Tech & Gadgets 

Apple Announced an iPad Pro With the M4 Chip and TikTok Sued the US Government in This Week’s Tech Roundup

OpenAI is also reportedly building its own search engine.

X Removed the Ability To Hide Blue Checks and NASA Revealed Plans for Lunar Cars in This Week’s Tech Roundup
Tech & Gadgets 

X Removed the Ability To Hide Blue Checks and NASA Revealed Plans for Lunar Cars in This Week’s Tech Roundup

Apple is also finally allowing game emulators on the App Store.


OpenAI Revealed That Elon Musk Left Company After It Declined To Merge With Tesla in This Week's Tech Roundup
Tech & Gadgets 

OpenAI Revealed That Elon Musk Left Company After It Declined To Merge With Tesla in This Week's Tech Roundup

Anthropic also launched its Claude 3 AI chatbot family.

Jamaican Pop Artist Shenseea Shares Sophomore Album ‘Never Gets Late Here’
Music

Jamaican Pop Artist Shenseea Shares Sophomore Album ‘Never Gets Late Here’

Featuring appearances from Wizkid, Anitta, Coi Leray and more.

Loop x Tomorrowland Team Up Ahead of the Festival Season for Limited Edition Earplugs
Tech & Gadgets

Loop x Tomorrowland Team Up Ahead of the Festival Season for Limited Edition Earplugs

The noise-reducing headphones debut in two new colorways.

Hender Scheme’s $1,437 USD Bespoke Jenga Uses Tanned Leather Blocks
Design

Hender Scheme’s $1,437 USD Bespoke Jenga Uses Tanned Leather Blocks

Swapping out the typical wood blocks for an elevated design.

MING Revives the Dive Watch With the Sleek and Durable ‘37.09 Bluefin’
Watches

MING Revives the Dive Watch With the Sleek and Durable ‘37.09 Bluefin’

A lighter, thinner design to follow its rugged H41.

Eric Emanuel Opens Airy New Store in East Hampton
Fashion

Eric Emanuel Opens Airy New Store in East Hampton

The designer already operates stores in SoHo and Miami.


Skrillex Releases Dance Track “Push” With Hamdi and TAICHU
Music

Skrillex Releases Dance Track “Push” With Hamdi and TAICHU

The track was premiered on ‘Rinse FM’ last year.

Oasis' 'Definitely Maybe' Receives 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Music

Oasis' 'Definitely Maybe' Receives 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

The band’s 1994 debut record is widely considered as one of the greatest Britpop albums of all time.

New Balance Builds the 550 "Sashiko Pack" With Heavy Canvas
Footwear

New Balance Builds the 550 "Sashiko Pack" With Heavy Canvas

Arriving in hues of “Pecan” and “Linen.”

Drake Acquires Stunning $15 Million USD Dos Brisas Ranch in Texas
Music

Drake Acquires Stunning $15 Million USD Dos Brisas Ranch in Texas

The former resort features an organic farm and equestrian facility, to name a few.

A New 'Ghost in the Shell' Anime Is in the Works
Entertainment

A New 'Ghost in the Shell' Anime Is in the Works

Developed by Science SARU and Production I.G.

More ▾
 
We got you covered. Don’t miss out on the latest news by signing up for our newsletters.

By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.