Melania Trump Releases Audiobook of Memoir Using Personal AI Voice, Opening a New Era of Publishing
Former First Lady Melania Trump has officially released an audiobook version of her memoir, "Melania," narrated entirely by artificial intelligence that simulates her own voice. This is the first time in US history that a First Lady has deployed AI voice cloning technology for a commercial work.
According to her official website, this voice model was created “under the direct supervision of Melania Trump” and developed by ElevenLabs – a prominent startup in the field of AI audio. The audiobook is currently sold exclusively for $25 through the ElevenReader app, a recently launched AI audiobook platform.
From Slovenia to the White House
The memoir “Melania” recounts her childhood in Slovenia, her journey as a fashion model in Europe and New York, and her fateful encounter with Donald Trump – the moment that changed her life forever. The English version is available now, with Spanish, Portuguese and Hindi versions due in the coming weeks.
“It is an honor to present to you ‘Melania – AI Audiobook’ – narrated entirely by my own artificial intelligence voice,” she shared on social media. “Let the future of publishing begin.”
Legal Debate Over AI Voices
Although Melania has licensed her voice to ElevenLabs, lawyers have warned of legal gray areas around AI voice cloning technology. According to Dhrupad Das, a technology lawyer at Panda Law, “the use of AI to mimic the voice of a celebrity is fraught with risks, especially when there is no clear permission for the persona.”
Das also stressed that while the technology has the potential to aid education and public service, “the moment you use a recognizable voice, you are entering legal territory.”
Combining Publishing with Legal Action
The release of the AI audiobook comes just days after Melania Trump joined her husband, former President Donald Trump, at the White House to sign the “Take It Down Act.” The new federal law, aimed at combating the spread of non-consensual intimate images, especially AI-generated deepfakes, requires platforms to remove offending content within 48 hours.
At over seven hours long, “Melania” joins ElevenReader’s growing catalog of AI-narrated audiobooks, including works by Maya Angelou, Deepak Chopra, and Arianna Huffington. The combination of artificial intelligence and celebrity voices is ushering in a new era for global publishing.