Latest news with #TheAIAudiobook
Daily Tribune
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
Melania Trump uses AI vocal replica to narrate audiobook
AFP | Washington, United States US First Lady Melania Trump warned recently of the danger of AI deepfakes. Now she is releasing an audiobook narrated by an artificial intelligence-generated version of her own voice. The 55-year-old wife of President Donald Trump announced the release of the seven-hour recording — which retails for $25 — in a social media post on Thursday. 'My story, my perspective, the truth,' narrates a voice in the Slovenian-born former model's distinctive accent, over a short black and white video featuring computer-generated graphics of her face. Whether it's Melania herself who is speaking in the video, or her AI doppelganger, is not made clear. She then writes in the same post: 'I am honored to bring you Melania — The AI Audiobook — narrated entirely using artificial intelligence in my own voice. 'Let the future of publishing begin.' The website for the audiobook says the 'AI-generated replica' of Melania Trump's voice was 'created under Mrs. Trump's direction and supervision.' 'Multiple' foreign language versions would be available later this year, it added.
San Francisco Chronicle
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Melania Trump used AI-generated version of her voice to narrate memoir
Melania Trump has enlisted artificial intelligence to replicate her voice for the audiobook release of her recent memoir, 'Melania.' 'I am honored to bring you Melania — The AI Audiobook — narrated entirely using artificial intelligence in my own voice,' she posted to the social platform X on Thursday, May 22. 'Let the future of publishing begin.' The first lady teamed up with New York-based AI audio research startup ElevenLabs for the project, the same company responsible for rendering voice models of Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garica, Judy Garland and James Dean, among other dead celebrities. Trump's AI-generated audiobook is available in English for $25, exclusively on the ElevenReader app. Foreign language variations are set for release in the fall. The seven-hour narration was 'created under Mrs. Trump's direction and supervision,' according to her website. 'Melania,' released in hardcover in October 2024, details the first lady's life story, from her upbringing in Slovenia to her modeling career and marriage to President Donald Trump. The memoir is just the most recent audiobook of thousands on the ElevenReader app, which is available for iOS and Android. Platforms such as Audible, Spotify and Google Play Books have begun to offer AI-generated audiobook narration in recent years, though using personalized AI-generated voices tailored to mimic the author's own voice is a newer development. Founded in 2022, ElevenLabs has a current valuation of $3.3 billion and has raised more than $200 million in funding to expand its research. Though she supports the use of AI in the context of audiobooks, Trump has been championing for the Take it Down Act, which criminalizes revenge pornography and deepfake porn, the latter of which is generated by AI. It was signed into law on Monday, May 19.
eNCA
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- eNCA
Melania Trump uses AI vocal replica to narrate audiobook
WASHINGTON - US First Lady Melania Trump warned recently of the danger of AI deepfakes. Now she is releasing an audiobook narrated by an artificial intelligence-generated version of her own voice. The 55-year-old wife of President Donald Trump announced the release of the seven-hour recording -- which retails for $25 -- in a social media post on Thursday. "My story, my perspective, the truth," narrates a voice in the Slovenian-born former model's distinctive accent, over a short black and white video featuring computer-generated graphics of her face. Whether it's Melania herself who is speaking in the video, or her AI doppelganger, is not made clear. She then writes in the same post: "I am honoured to bring you Melania -- The AI Audiobook -- narrated entirely using artificial intelligence in my own voice. "Let the future of publishing begin." The website for the audiobook says the "AI-generated replica" of Melania Trump's voice was "created under Mrs. Trump's direction and supervision." "Multiple" foreign language versions would be available later this year, it added. Melania Trump released the physical edition of her memoir to great fanfare in October -- with a signed collector's edition printed on "premium art paper" priced at $150. The release of the AI-narrated audiobook comes just days after she joined President Trump to sign a bill making it a federal crime to post "revenge porn" -- whether real or generated using AI. Melania Trump had campaigned for the "Take It Down Act" in March in her first solo event since her husband returned to power, speaking out against "malicious online content, like deepfakes." The First Lady has largely been an elusive figure at the White House since her husband took the oath of office on January 20, spending only limited time in Washington alongside her billionaire husband. But it has not stopped her from taking on a handful of projects that carefully control her image -- and make money too.
News18
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Melania Trump Uses AI To Narrate Memoir In Her Own Voice: 'New Era'
Last Updated: The audiobook, spanning a little over seven hours, features a voice generated by artificial intelligence to replicate Melania Trump. US First Lady Melania Trump unveiled an AI-synthesized audiobook of her personal memoir, a move she championed as 'a new era in publishing." The audiobook, spanning a little over seven hours, features a voice generated by artificial intelligence to replicate her own, circumventing the traditional process of recording herself. 'I am honored to bring you Melania – The AI Audiobook – narrated entirely using artificial intelligence in my own voice," the First Lady announced on X (formerly Twitter). A NEW ERA IN PUBLISHINGI am honored to bring you Melania – The AI Audiobook – narrated entirely using artificial intelligence in my own the future of publishing begin. Exclusively: — MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) May 22, 2025 She explained that ElevenLabs developed the AI replica of her voice 'under my strict supervision, which will establish an unforgettable connection with my personal story, in multiple languages for listeners worldwide." ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski lauded the project as a 'first-of-its-kind audiobook." The memoir itself, released last year, offers a glimpse into Melania Trump's upbringing, her meeting with US President Donald Trump, and even reveals points of disagreement on key political issues like abortion. Melania Trump also made a rare public appearance earlier this week at the White House to support the 'Take It Down Act," which the US President signed into law. This legislation specifically outlaws AI-generated pornography, including non-consensual intimate imagery. During the signing ceremony, she said, 'This legislation is a powerful step forward in our efforts to ensure that every American, especially young people, can feel better protected from their image or identity being abused." Drawing a parallel between new technologies and past vices, she explained, 'Artificial intelligence and social media are the digital candy for the next generation — sweet, addictive and engineered to have an impact on the connectivity development of our children. But unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponized, shape beliefs and sadly, affect emotions." First Published: May 23, 2025, 13:04 IST
The Star
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Melania Trump uses AI vocal replica to narrate audiobook
The release of her AI-narrated audiobook comes just days after Melania joined her husband Trump to sign a bill making it a federal crime to post 'revenge porn' – whether real or generated using AI. — AP WASHINGTON: US First Lady Melania Trump warned recently of the danger of AI deepfakes. Now she is releasing an audiobook narrated by an artificial intelligence-generated version of her own voice. The 55-year-old wife of President Donald Trump announced the release of the seven-hour recording – which retails for US$25 (RM106) – in a social media post on May 22. "My story, my perspective, the truth," narrates a voice in the Slovenian-born former model's distinctive accent, over a short black and white video featuring computer-generated graphics of her face. Whether it's Melania herself who is speaking in the video, or her AI doppelganger, is not made clear. She then writes in the same post: "I am honored to bring you Melania – The AI Audiobook – narrated entirely using artificial intelligence in my own voice. "Let the future of publishing begin." The website for the audiobook says the "AI-generated replica" of Melania Trump's voice was "created under Mrs. Trump's direction and supervision." "Multiple" foreign language versions would be available later this year, it added. Melania Trump released the physical edition of her memoir to great fanfare in October – with a signed collector's edition printed on "premium art paper" priced at US$150 (RM638). The release of the AI-narrated audiobook comes just days after she joined President Trump to sign a bill making it a federal crime to post "revenge porn" – whether real or generated using AI. Melania Trump had campaigned for the "Take It Down Act" in March in her first solo event since her husband returned to power, speaking out against "malicious online content, like deepfakes." The First Lady has largely been an elusive figure at the White House since her husband took the oath of office on January 20, spending only limited time in Washington alongside her billionaire husband. But it has not stopped her from taking on a handful of projects that carefully control her image – and make money too. As well as the AI audiobook, Melania is filming a documentary series with Amazon, under a contract reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars. – AFP
