GNAI Visual Synopsis: A vintage microphone illuminated by a soft spotlight, evoking an ambiance of classic Hollywood, with a 21st-century laptop displaying a waveform in the background – symbolizing the fusion of old-time legacy with modern AI tech.
One-Sentence Summary
Using AI technology, the late Hollywood icon Jimmy Stewart’s voice has been recreated for a special sleep story featured in the Calm app. Read The Full Article
Key Points
- 1. AI technology has been utilized to resurrect the distinctive voice of Jimmy Stewart, a celebrated actor from the Golden Age of Hollywood, who passed away in 1997, for a new bedtime story on the Calm app.
- 2. The voice cloning was performed by Respeecher, a company specializing in AI voice cloning, and received ethical consent from Stewart’s family and his estate, managed by CMG Worldwide.
- 3. Stewart joins a roster of other celebrities who have contributed to the Calm app’s series of sleep stories, and his AI-generated story, which premiered on December 5, 2023, offers themes of love, loss, hope, and joy.
- 4. AI voice cloning is advancing within the entertainment industry, with Respeecher previously recreating voices for characters in the Star Wars franchise, but it also raises discussions about authenticity and ethics in entertainment.
Key Insight
The project involving Jimmy Stewart’s voice demonstrates a growing trend of blending historical entertainment figures with modern AI technology, raising questions about ethical practices while providing novel experiences that connect past legacies with contemporary audiences.
Why This Matters
The integration of AI technology into entertainment not only offers new methods for storytelling and preserving the legacies of iconic figures but also prompts a necessary dialogue on the ethical implications of using such technology concerning consent, authenticity, and respect for the original artists’ work.
Notable Quote
“We are excited for our dad to be the voice of Calm’s latest sleep story. It’s amazing what technology can do and wonderful to see Dad’s legacy live on this holiday season in new ways, like helping people find restful sleep and sweet dreams,” – Kelly Stewart Harcourt, daughter of Jimmy Stewart.
