Deepak Chopra , the world-renowned author and health and wellness expert, has teamed with AI firm ElevenLabs to add his pipes to the company’s roster of notable voices available for audio streaming of books, articles and other written materials.

Chopra’s collaboration with ElevenLabs originated from the “Digital Deepak” chatbot app that they launched together in June. The chatbot is trained on Chopak’s extensive collection of over 90 books and numerous public appearances, enabling users to ask him specific questions and receive responses delivered in Chopra’s synthetic voice.

London-based ElevenLabs has been getting attention in the entertainment industry for its work to partner with the estates of celebrities such as Judy Garland, Laurence Olivier, James Dean and Burt Reynolds to allow users to stream books, articles and other texts as read in the voices of iconic stars. ElevenLabs’ deal with Chopra comes the same day that the industry-leading, Microsoft-backed OpenAI platform rolled out a host of new voices and features to its Advanced Voice Mode service.

Chopra’s latest collaboration with ElevenLabs adds his distinctive voice to the roster that users can select from when streaming audio spoken-word content. ElevenLabs has actively emphasized its efforts to secure license agreements with estates, ensuring appropriate compensation. The company also underscores that its collection of celebrity voices is solely available for audio streaming of written materials. ElevenLabs users are restricted from using these voices to create new content.

“I am proud to announce my partnership with ElevenLabs. Listening can foster emotional
nurturing and engagement. This principle remains relevant in the age of AI, and it is even more important,” Chopra stated.
“I have always written to connect with people, and now I can connect on a deeper level with a global audience as I make my teachings accessible to everyone in my own voice.”

ElevenLabs’ outreach to the industry aims to counter the widespread fear in Hollywood, particularly among creative professionals, that AI tools will eventually displace actors, writers, directors, producers, and other behind-the-scenes personnel.

“At ElevenLabs, we’re dedicated to preserving and celebrating cultural legacies while pushing the limits of technology,” said Dustin Blank, head of partnerships for ElevenLabs. “By bringing voices like Deepak Chopra to our platform, we’re not just enhancing our app – we’re creating new ways for people to connect with the most influential figures and their work.”

Mayim Bialik, actor and neuroscientist who is a friend of Chopra and closely following the development of AI in content creation, supports the ElevenLabs model. Actors are particularly focused on establishing the principle of compensation and consent when AI tools are used to create new works from existing material. AI concerns were a major factor in SAG-AFTRA’s lengthy strike last year and remain a key point of contention in the union’s current strike against top video game publishers.

“Deepak has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to understanding the mind-body connection and our own selves, so it’s not surprising to see him finding creative ways to use the latest and best AI technology with ElevenLabs in a safe and responsible way,” Bialik said. “Being able to access his content in his calm and soothing voice is a great benefit for his fans worldwide.”

ElevenLabs’ recent agreement comes following the enactment of AI legislation by California Gov. Gavin Newsom. With SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher by his side, Newsom signed two bills on Sept. 17, advocated for by the union, that require AI and tech companies to obtain consent from performers if their likenesses are to be used in AI-generated content.

ElevenLabs views the California legislation as a positive step toward establishing guidelines for this powerful new technology, which has the potential to revolutionize productivity and the way we live and learn. However, it also recognizes the significant risks associated with copyright infringement and misinformation. Blank, in an interview with Variety , emphasized that such legislation at both the state and federal level is crucial for nurturing AI business opportunities in the long term.

“We welcome — and we believe the entire industry should welcome — government efforts to hold accountable those who create digital replicas of individuals without their permission,” Blank told Variety . “Recognizing the need for accountability in the use of technology is crucial to making it safer while still allowing progress to flourish.”