CNN
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Because of generative AI know-how, now you can take heed to a soothing Christmas bedtime story informed by the late legendary actor Jimmy Stewart.
Stewart, star of “It’s a Fantastic Life” who died in 1997, is the voice behind a brand new audio story launched Tuesday on the sleep and meditation app Calm. Generative AI helps to mimic Stewart’s distinctive tone, replicated with the approval of the actor’s household and property, managed by CMG Worldwide.
Titled “It’s a Wonderful Sleep Story,” the bedtime story kicks off on Christmas Eve, giving listeners a festive story as a part of Calm’s Sleep Stories. The gathering is supposed to information customers to mattress with calming voices and only a few plot factors, with Stewart’s story now accessible to premium Calm subscribers.
“We’re excited for our Dad to be the voice of Calm’s newest Sleep Story,” stated Kelly Stewart Harcourt through a Calm assertion to CNN. “It’s wonderful what know-how can do and fantastic to see Dad’s legacy reside on this vacation season in new methods, like serving to individuals discover restful sleep and candy desires.”
Whereas the story itself was written and produced by Calm, the app labored with voice cloning firm Respeecher to create a sound much like Stewart. Respeecher, a Ukrainian-based AI voice firm, says it relied on “a number of dozen minutes” of present recordings of the actor’s voice to coach its system, mixing that along with a voice actor studying the story out loud to create the completed model seemingly learn by Stewart himself. Respeecher has additionally carried out tasks recreating different iconic voices together with Vince Lombardi, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader and announced a $1 million “pre-series A” fundraising spherical Wednesday.
“Effectively, howdy. I’m James Stewart, however, properly, you may name me Jimmy,” the audio opens in what sounds precisely like Stewart’s signature soothing tone. “Tonight, I’m going to inform you a narrative. It’s a heartwarming story of affection, of loss, of hope and of pleasure however most of all, it’s an exquisite sleep story.”
