OpenAI Pauses Public Release of Realistic Voice Cloning Tech Over Election Misuse Fears

OpenAI created Voice Engine, which can clone a person's voice from a 15-second sample, but is not releasing it publicly due to election misuse concerns
The technology is very realistic and risks impersonating prominent figures if not responsibly deployed
OpenAI wants dialogue on responsible synthetic voice rollout and will decide based on testing and feedback
AI misuse is a major concern in 2024 with over 80 countries holding elections
Safety measures being tested include audio watermarking and monitoring how Voice Engine is used