Staff Reports
In a heartwarming and festive gesture, the popular sleeping aid and meditation app, Calm, has announced that subscribers will now have the opportunity to listen to the soothing voice of the late Hollywood legend Jimmy Stewart as he narrates a bedtime story. With the blessing of Stewart’s family and estate, Calm has utilized artificial intelligence to recreate his trademark voice for an AI-generated reading of “It’s a Wonderful Sleep Story,” just in time for Christmas.
A teaser for the AI-generated reading was uploaded to Calm’s Instagram page and has garnered immense excitement from fans. The company expressed its gratitude to the Stewart family for allowing them to honor the beloved Hollywood icon’s legacy. According to Calm, “It’s A Wonderful Sleep Story is a new, but timeless tale of hope and kindness, brought to life by Jimmy Stewart’s iconic voice. So cozy under the covers and drift off to sleep — the festive way.”
Jimmy Stewart's Signature Voice Gets AI Treatment to Narrate Heartwarming Christmas Bedtime Story
READ: https://t.co/mJJXUF3dl1
— T (@Rifleman4WVU) December 13, 2023
In a short audio clip shared by Calm, Stewart’s AI-generated voice introduced himself, saying, “Well, hello. I’m James Stewart. But, well, you can call me Jimmy.” The voice continued, “Tonight, I’m going to tell you a story. It’s a heartwarming story of love, of loss, of hope, and of joy. But most of all, it’s a wonderful sleep story.”
The preview of the AI-generated reading has received overwhelming positive feedback from listeners. Fans expressed their delight in being able to still hear the warmth and kindness in Stewart’s voice, likening it to a warm hug. However, there were some who found the computer-generated rendering of his voice to be slightly unsettling and creepy, expressing their reservations about the use of AI.
Stewart’s daughter, Kelly Stewart Harcourt, shared her excitement about her late father’s involvement in Calm’s Sleep Story. She spoke highly of the technology used to recreate his voice and expressed how wonderful it is to see her father’s legacy live on in new ways, such as helping people find restful sleep and sweet dreams. Calm collaborated with an AI startup called Respeecher to develop the story and used a voice actor to record the initial reading before the AI technology took over to perfect Stewart’s speech pattern.
Overall, Calm’s decision to offer a bedtime story narrated by the iconic Jimmy Stewart through the use of AI technology has received a positive response. It’s a heartwarming and nostalgic way for subscribers to unwind and find tranquility as they drift off to sleep during the holiday season.
