The legendary former It’s A Great Life star Jimmy Stewart, who has been lifeless since 1997, has been introduced again to life by synthetic intelligence (AI) to relate a bedtime story for Calm App.
AI Brings Stewart Again To Life
Variety reported that Stewart is narrating “It’s a Great Sleep Story,” which Calm describes as “a heartwarming new vacation story.” Stewart’s household and property that’s managed by CMG Worldwide gave consent for him for use within the app, which premiered yesterday and is on the market to subscribers of Calm Premium, one thing that prices $69.99 per 12 months.
“Nicely, hey. I’m James Stewart. However, properly, you may name me Jimmy,” the AI-generated voice of Stewart could be heard saying in the beginning of the story. “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 a beautiful sleep story.”
Kelly Stewart Harcourt, one in every of Stewart’s daughters, launched a press release in help of the app.
“We’re excited for our dad to be the voice of Calm’s newest Sleep Story,” she mentioned. “It’s superb what expertise can do and great to see Dad’s legacy dwell on this vacation season in new methods, like serving to folks discover restful sleep and candy desires.”
Discover out extra about this within the video beneath.
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AI Recreate Stewart’s Voice
“Jimmy Stewart’s calming voice is likely one of the most iconic in film historical past, and we’re thrilled to see it delivered to the main leisure app available on the market,” added Tina Xavie, chief advertising and marketing officer of CMG Worldwide. “Due to superior expertise, all of us get the enjoyment of listening to Jimmy’s distinctive voice once more.”
To recreate Stewart’s voice, Calm teamed up with the AI voice-cloning startup Respeecher, which additionally recreated the voice of Mark Hamill’s voice of Luke Skywalker for “The Mandalorian” and James Earl Jones’ voice of Darth Vader for “Obi-Wan Kenobi” on Disney+. To recreate Stewart’s voice, Respeecher introduced in a male voice actor to say the strains and mimic the way in which the previous Rear Window star spoke.
“It was important, like in all different tasks, that the undertaking was performed in keeping with excessive moral requirements and respect, which Respeecher has advocated for a few years,” mentioned Alex Serdiuk, Respeecher CEO and co-founder. “James Stewart is likely one of the most outstanding actors in U.S. historical past. Recreating his voice with AI was each an enormous duty and an honor for Respeecher. It was a solution to pay tribute to his unimaginable profession and all the great reminiscences he left to folks.”
Associated: How Hollywood Icon Jimmy Stewart, a WWII Ace, Dealt With PTSD
Stewart’s Dying
The New York Times reported that Stewart died on the age of 89 from a blood clot in his lung again in 1997.
”America misplaced a nationwide treasure in the present day,” then-President Invoice Clinton mentioned on the time. ”Jimmy Stewart was an important actor, a gentleman and a patriot.”
Many are uncomfortable with simply how far AI has come lately, with some saying that there are scary elements to its potential. What do you consider AI getting used to permit Stewart to relate a brand new app 26 years after his demise? Tell us within the feedback part.
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