Melania Trump Releases AI Voice Replica Voice to Narrate Memoir Audiobook Using Artificial Intelligence
First lady Melania Trump is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) in the release of her memoir’s audiobook version. The audiobook, titled ‘Melania: The Audiobook,’ features a digitally replicated version of Trump’s voice narrating her life story.
In a statement released on Thursday, Trump expressed her pride in being at the forefront of publishing’s new frontier, where AI technology and audio intersect. The project, based on her 2024 memoir, was ‘created entirely with artificial intelligence audio technology.’ The seven-hour English language version is available on Trump’s personal website for $25.
ElevenLabs, the company behind the AI technology, developed a replica of Trump’s voice under her strict supervision. According to Trump, this AI-generated voice will ‘establish an unforgettable connection with my personal story, in multiple languages for listeners worldwide.’ ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski described the effort as a ‘first-of-its-kind audiobook project.’ The company plans to release additional versions of the audiobook in multiple languages, including Spanish, Hindi, and Portuguese, this fall.
The first lady has been actively involved in recent White House events. Earlier this week, she was present as President Trump signed the Take it Down Act, legislation she helped push through Congress to protect individuals from nonconsensual sexualized content online. During the signing ceremony, Trump cautioned about the potential dangers of AI, stating, ‘AI and social media are the digital candy for the next generation, sweet addictive and engineered to have an impact on the cognitive development of our children.’ She added, ‘Unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponized, shape beliefs and, sadly, affect emotions and even be deadly.’
The release of Trump’s AI-narrated audiobook marks a significant step in the integration of AI in the publishing industry, raising both innovative possibilities and concerns about the technology’s broader implications.
