OpenAI Bought Company That Offered A.I. Tools for Cloning Voices

OpenAI has quietly acquired Weights.gg, a startup that developed AI tools for cloning voices, according to two people familiar with the deal. The acquisition was not publicly announced. Weights.gg had marketed its technology for applications such as content creation and personal assistant use, but also raised concerns about potential misuse for impersonation and deepfakes.

The specific terms of the deal were not disclosed. The startup's technology allows users to clone voices from short audio samples, a capability that has drawn scrutiny from regulators and safety researchers.

The purchase comes amid growing attention to synthetic media and voice cloning, with several jurisdictions considering or enacting laws to regulate the technology. OpenAI has previously stated its commitment to responsible deployment of AI tools, but has faced criticism for releasing powerful models with limited safeguards. The company did not respond to a request for comment.