Trends

AI brings Judy Garland’s voice to life in new audiobook feature

OUR TAKE ElevenLabs’ introduction of AI-generated voice-overs from deceased celebrities represents a major advancement in technology and media. By incorporating voices like Judy Garland’s into their new Reader app, ElevenLabs is setting a new precedent in how we can experience classic voices. This d…

Voice-725

Headline

OUR TAKE ElevenLabs’ introduction of AI-generated voice-overs from deceased celebrities represents a major advancement in technology and media. By incorporating voices like Judy Garland’s into their new Reader app, ElevenLabs is setting a new precedent in how we can experience…

Context

OUR TAKE ElevenLabs’ introduction of AI-generated voice-overs from deceased celebrities represents a major advancement in technology and media. By incorporating voices like Judy Garland’s into their new Reader app, ElevenLabs is setting a new precedent in how we can experience classic voices. This development, while showcasing AI’s potential, also raises important questions about copyright, authenticity, and the ethics of using digital recreations of voices from the past. — Zoey Zhu, BTW reporter AI company ElevenLabs has launched a new Reader app that will feature voice-overs from iconic deceased actors like Judy Garland, James Dean, and Burt Reynolds. This app converts text from articles, PDFs, and e-books into audio, allowing users to hear these celebrities narrate content they never recorded.

Evidence

Pending intelligence enrichment.

Analysis

Dustin Blank, ElevenLabs’ head of partnerships, assured that the company respects the actors’ legacies and sees this as a major step in diversifying content accessibility. While agreements with the actors’ estates are in place, details on compensation remain undisclosed. This advancement highlights AI’s growing ability to produce lifelike voice reproductions, though it also raises ethical and legal concerns about the technology’s use. Earlier this year, ElevenLabs faced controversy when its tool was used to create a fake robocall from President Joe Biden, illustrating the potential for AI misuse. Also read: OpenAI voice-clone tool mimics your voice with 15-second sample Also read: Voice recognition: Important part of AI

Key Points

  • ElevenLabs launches Reader app featuring digitally produced voice-overs of deceased celebrities like Judy Garland, James Dean, and Burt Reynolds.
  • The app converts various text formats into voice-overs, marking a significant step in AI’s role in media and entertainment.

Actions

Pending intelligence enrichment.

Author

Zoey Zhu