OpenAI blocks direct author‑style requests in ChatGPT

OpenAI announced on Tuesday that the latest version of ChatGPT will no longer offer a feature that directly clones the vocal patterns of well‑known writers, a capability that had been used by developers to generate audiobooks and podcasts sounding like the original authors. The decision follows internal reviews and external pressure concerning intellectual‑property rights and the potential for misuse, prompting the company to update its usage policy to prohibit the creation of synthetic speech that mimics the distinctive voice of any living or recently deceased public figure without explicit permission. Existing models will retain the ability to emulate broader literary styles, allowing the system to produce text that captures the “feel” of a writer’s work without reproducing a recognisable vocal signature.

OpenAI’s move has been met with mixed reactions from the creative community. Advocates for author rights praised the precautionary step, noting that it reduces the risk of unauthorized commercial exploitation, while some technologists warned that the restriction could limit legitimate artistic experimentation. The company emphasized that the underlying language model remains capable of generating content that reflects a writer’s thematic and stylistic tendencies, preserving the utility of AI‑assisted writing tools while respecting the boundaries of personal likeness. The policy change is effective immediately and will be enforced through updated moderation filters and developer guidelines.