Liza Minnelli defends use of AI on first new song in 13 years
Liza Minnelli is standing by her decision to use an AI voice-cloning company on her first new song in 13 years.
“Today, my first EDM single since The Pet Shop Boys era [was] released on ElevenLabs, a Six Billion Dollar techno behemoth do[ing] amazing things,” she wrote in a Facebook post this week.
On its website, ElevenLabs describes itself as a “curated group of pioneering artists using new technology to expand their sound.” It says users can generate full songs in a matter of minutes using artificial intelligence, while also offering public figures the ability to license their AI-cloned voices.
The 79-year-old EGOT winner went on to emphasize that her new dance track, “Kids Wait Till You Hear This,” does not use AI to generate her actual voice.
“We used AI arrangements. Not AI vocals,” she wrote. “A few trolls didn’t bother to read the truth, check with me or my partners. The shoutouts are all mine!”
The new song features Minnelli speaking various phrases over a techno beat. It’s one of 13 tracks featured on ElevenLabs’ recently released The Eleven Album, which highlights a variety of artists, including Art Garfunkel, blending their signature sound with AI features and arrangements.
In a statement to NBC News, Minnelli further defended her decision to work with the company, saying she was interested in “using my voice and new tools in service of expression, not instead of it.”
“This project respects the artist’s voice, the artist’s choices, and the artist’s ownership,” she added.