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

May 16, 2026 - 09:13

OpenAI has purchased Weights.gg, a company that previously provided artificial intelligence tools for voice cloning. The deal, which was not widely publicized, marks another step in the tech giant's expansion into generative audio technology.

Weights.gg originally operated as a social network for developers and creators to build, share, and experiment with AI algorithms. The platform allowed users to upload and modify machine learning models, including those capable of replicating human voices with high accuracy. While the financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, sources familiar with the matter say the deal closed in recent weeks.

The acquisition raises questions about how OpenAI plans to use the technology. Voice cloning has been a controversial area in AI, with concerns about deepfakes, fraud, and unauthorized use of a person's voice. OpenAI has previously released its own voice generation tools, such as the Voice Engine, but has limited public access due to safety risks.

By bringing Weights.gg's team and technology in-house, OpenAI may be looking to strengthen its internal research capabilities. The company has not announced any immediate product changes or new services tied to the acquisition. A spokesperson said only that OpenAI is "always exploring ways to improve our models and tools."

The move comes as competition in the AI voice space heats up. Other companies, including ElevenLabs and Microsoft, have also invested heavily in synthetic voice technology. Regulators in the U.S. and Europe are increasingly scrutinizing such tools, with several states passing laws requiring disclosure when AI-generated voices are used in political ads or commercial recordings.

For now, Weights.gg's platform appears to be offline, and former users have been redirected to OpenAI's main website.