That’s amazing…is it a robot?
The AI-generated voice of Jimmy Stewart, the legendary Hollywood actor who died in 1997, reads a new bedtime story in sleep and meditation app Calm.
Stewart’s voice, which has appeared in films such as It’s a Wonderful Life, Vertigo and Rear Window, was recreated for Calm’s story using AI voice cloning technology. The project has the consent of Stewart’s family and his estate, which is managed by CMG Worldwide.
The AI-generated “It’s a Wonderful Sleep Story,” which Calm touts as a “heartwarming new holiday story,” will be available exclusively on the app on December 5th. Available to Calm Premium subscribers for $69.99 per year.
“Oh, good luck. I’m James Stewart. But, hey, you can call me Jimmy,” says Stewart’s AI-generated voice in the story’s intro. “Tonight, I’m going to tell you a story. This is a heartwarming story of love, loss, hope, and joy. But most of all, this is a story of great sleep.” (Listen to the clip below.)
One of Stewart’s daughters, Kelly Stewart Harcourt, said in a statement: It’s amazing what technology can do, and it’s great to see my father’s legacy come to life in new ways this holiday season, like helping people sleep more restfully and have better dreams. ”
Calm worked with AI voice cloning startup Respeecher to develop Stewart’s bedtime story. Respeecher’s credits include recreating the voice of Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker in “The Mandalorian” and James Earl Jones’ voice of Darth Vader in “Obi-Wan Kenobi” on Disney+. Masu. . This story was written and produced by his Calm creative team.
“Jimmy Stewart’s soothing voice is one of the most iconic voices in movie history, and we’re thrilled to bring it to the market-leading relaxation app,” said CMG Worldwide. Chief Marketing Officer Tina Zaby said. “Thanks to advanced technology, we all have the pleasure of hearing Jimmy’s unique voice again.”
In recreating Stewart’s voice, the respeaker employed a voice actor to act out the lines and imitate his speaking style. “As with all our projects, it was imperative that this project be conducted in accordance with the high ethical standards and respect that ReSpeaker has advocated for many years,” said Alex, his CEO and co-founder of ReSpeaker. Serdiuk said. He added: “James Stewart is one of the most remarkable actors in American history. Recreating his voice with AI was both a great responsibility and an honor for Respeecher. It was a way to pay homage to all the good memories we had.”
While Stewart’s AI-generated bedtime reading has received blessings from his family and estate, such recreations have sparked a backlash among those who consider the project exploitative and inauthentic. Warner Music Group recently released an animated biopic of French singer Edith Piaf that used AI to replicate her voice and image, drawing criticism on social media.The film’s producers said: variety They strived to create something that looked “very, very realistic” and said, “We didn’t want her to look cartoonish.”
Calm is building a franchise around the Sleep Stories series, and has hosted actors such as Jennifer Garner, Shawn Mendes, Cynthia Erivo, Camila Cabello, Nick Offerman, Harry Styles, Michael Bublé, Matthew McConaughey, LeBron James, Leger, and more on the app. We offer several stories on the app narrated by celebrities. -Jean Page, Laura Dern, Cillian Murphy, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, LeVar Burton, Lucy Liu, Mandy Moore, Kate Winslet.
Listen to the intro to “It’s a Wonderful Sleep Story.”
Top photo: Jimmy Stewart, January 1966.