OpenAI has acquired AI voice-cloning startup Weights.gg, a company known for tools that allowed users to create and share synthetic voices modeled after celebrities, musicians, fictional characters, and political figures, according to The New York Times. The acquisition included the startup’s intellectual property and a small team of employees, although financial terms were not disclosed.
Before shutting down earlier this year, Weights.gg operated a consumer-facing app called Replay, which enabled users to clone and remix voices using artificial intelligence. The platform reportedly hosted voice models resembling public figures including Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and members of Blackpink, along with fictional characters such as Bugs Bunny.
The acquisition comes as OpenAI continues expanding its investments in voice technology and conversational AI infrastructure. In recent months, the company has rolled out new voice capabilities through its APIs, including real-time translation and advanced speech interactions for AI agents.
Despite the acquisition, reports indicate that OpenAI does not currently plan to launch a standalone public voice-cloning platform similar to Replay. Instead, employees from Weights.gg have reportedly been integrated into different OpenAI teams to support internal audio and multimodal AI initiatives.
The move also arrives amid growing scrutiny surrounding AI-generated voices and synthetic media. OpenAI has historically taken a cautious approach toward unrestricted voice replication technology because of concerns around impersonation, misinformation, copyright issues, and abuse. The company previously delayed releasing certain voice-generation capabilities publicly over safety concerns.
Debates surrounding voice cloning have intensified across the entertainment and technology industries as creators and public figures seek greater legal protections for their voices and likenesses. Actress Scarlett Johansson previously threatened legal action against OpenAI over similarities between her voice and a ChatGPT voice assistant called “Sky,” while Taylor Swift has reportedly pursued trademark protections related to her likeness and voice.
The acquisition also reflects OpenAI’s broader shift toward commercial AI products and infrastructure ahead of a potential public market debut later this year.