Reader App Features AI-Generated Voices Of Judy Garland, James Dean, And Burt Reynolds With More To Come

ElevenLabs, an AI audio company recently announced their new service Iconic Voices, which will feature AI-generated voices of beloved late movie stars like Judy Garland, James Dean, and Burt Reynolds. This is done in partnership with the stars’ estates, and with permission from those concerned.

ElevenLabs explained that their Reader App will enable listeners to access audio versions of books, articles, and essays in any of these celebrity voices. The company is set to add more stars to the list in the coming months as users enjoy free access for the first three.

Judy’s daughter reacts to her mother’s AI voice by ElevenLabs

Judy’s daughter Liza Minnelli is excited about ElevenLabs’ move to honor her mother’s legacy by including her voice among the firsts of their project. She noted that this will create an avenue for Judy’s name to resound through generations as she acquires new fans.

Judy’s voice, alongside that of Dean, Burt, and Sir Laurence Olivier will only be available on the Reader App and are to be used exclusively for streaming rather than shared content. Only iOS users in select countries can enjoy this product; however, those with Android are not restricted by location.

Other reactions to the AI-likeness trend

With the rise of AI penetrating the entertainment industry, it has been met with pushback from celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, who accused OpenAI of featuring a voice just like hers in one of their latest versions. She called out the company for defying her refusal to partner; however, they denied using her likeness for the bot named Sky.

Like a few other actors, Scarlett demanded reforms on the use of AI technology and actor rights. The SAG-AFTRA strike of 2023 also ensured legal boundaries and compulsory compensation for scenarios such as this. It is in line with these rules that ElevenLabs has come up with celebrity voices in their new reader app.