Iconic Actors Voice AI Audiobooks, Bringing Classics to Life in ElevenLabs Reader App

ElevenLabs enhances its AI storytelling app with the voices of iconic actors, creating immersive audio experiences that bring classic tales to life in a whole new way.

Introducing ElevenLabs Reader: The company’s iPhone app allows users to listen to any content using a vast library of AI-generated voices, including original, synthetic, cloned, and now iconic voices:

• The app, currently available in the U.S. and UK, lets users input text, links, or files and have them read aloud in the voice of their choice, even when the phone is locked.
• ElevenLabs Reader offers a wide range of storyteller voices suitable for different content types, from eBooks and meditation readings to radio hosts and podcasts.
• An Android version and expansion to more countries are in the works.

Licensing iconic voices: ElevenLabs has partnered with the estates of legendary actors to bring their distinctive voices to the platform:

• The first round of iconic voices includes Judy Garland, James Dean, Burt Reynolds, and Sir Laurence Olivier, with more talent expected to be added soon.
• The impressively accurate voice clones can be used throughout the app, allowing users to experience classic stories narrated by the likes of Olivier or Garland.
• Liza Minnelli, representing the Garland Estate, expressed excitement about this technology bringing her mother’s voice to countless fans in a new way.

Expanding accessibility and reach: The addition of iconic voices aligns with ElevenLabs’ mission to make content more accessible and engaging:

• Dustin Blank, Head of Partnerships at ElevenLabs, highlighted how these iconic voices mark a major step in making content accessible in any language and voice.
• The app’s natural-sounding AI narration, now enhanced by the gravitas of legendary actors, has the potential to attract new audiences to classic stories and characters.
• As the company continues to refine its AI voice technology and expand its library, ElevenLabs Reader could become a go-to platform for immersive, personalized audio experiences.

Analyzing deeper: While the addition of iconic voices to ElevenLabs Reader is undoubtedly exciting for fans and opens up new possibilities for experiencing classic content, it also raises questions about the ethical implications of using AI to recreate the voices of deceased actors. As this technology advances, it will be crucial for companies like ElevenLabs to navigate issues of consent, likeness rights, and the potential impact on an actor’s legacy. Nevertheless, the partnership with the estates of these legendary performers suggests a thoughtful approach to bringing their voices back to life in a way that honors their craft and connects with new generations of fans.