Fall Asleep to AI Jimmy Stewart's Soothing Bedtime Story on Calm

Jimmy Stewart can now guide you into a peaceful night's sleep with a soothing bedtime story on the Calm app. Known for its celebrity-narrated Sleep Stories, Calm features voices of stars like Harry Styles and Idris Elba to help users unwind. In a groundbreaking collaboration with the AI company Respeecher, Stewart's iconic voice has been revived for the new "It’s a Wonderful Sleep Story," described by Calm as “a heartwarming holiday tale” available exclusively for Premium subscribers.

Renowned for his calming drawl in classics like It’s a Wonderful Life, Stewart's voice has been carefully recreated using advanced AI technology. Tina Xavie, CMO of CMG Worldwide, which manages Stewart's estate, believes this innovative approach is perfect for Calm's bedtime storytelling series. Respeecher trained their system using historic recordings of Stewart and collaborated with a voice actor to bring the story to life.

"Hello, I'm James Stewart, but you can call me Jimmy. Tonight I'm going to tell you a story,” the AI-generated Stewart begins, inviting listeners to settle in. “It’s a heartwarming story of love, loss, hope, and joy. Most of all — it’s a wonderful sleep story.”

The project received approval from both Stewart’s family and his estate. However, the use of AI to mimic the voices of public figures has sparked ethical discussions, especially following unauthorized instances involving celebrities such as Drake and Tom Hanks.

On social media, the "It’s a Wonderful Sleep Story" has faced criticism, with some calling it "despicable" and "terrifying," voicing concerns that Stewart would not endorse AI using his voice. Despite the controversy, Stewart’s family supports the initiative, with his daughter Kelly Stewart Harcourt expressing, “It’s amazing what technology can do, and wonderful to see Dad’s legacy live on this holiday season in new ways.”

Through this blend of tradition and technology, you can now experience a unique bedtime storytelling not just in Stewart's memory but also as a testament to the evolution of storytelling in our digital age.