Melania Trump outsourced the narration of her audiobook to artificial intelligence, and she's using that experience as a springboard to a high-tech role in her husband's administration.
The first lady told the New York Post that she's been tapped to lead the Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge, which encourages students as young as kindergartners to “develop, discover and expand” the potential of AI technology, and she's touting her audiobook experience as her qualification for the role, reported The Daily Beast.
“Creating my AI Audiobook opened my eyes to the countless opportunities and risks this new technology brings to American society,” Melania Trump told the Post in a video statement. “In just a few short years, AI will be the engine driving every business sector across our economy. It is poised to deliver great value to our careers, families, and communities.”
“Just as America once led the world into the skies with the Wright Brothers," she added, "we are poised to lead again — this time in the age of AI.”
Melania Trump announced in May that the seven-hour audio version of her self-titled memoir was entirely narrated by an AI-generated replica of her own voice.
“Let the future of publishing begin,” she said at the time.
The president's challenge purportedly aims to make students and educators more comfortable using AI tools to create apps or websites that addresses issues that “are of particular interest to the White House,” such as making schools safer, creating healthy meals plans and developing customized learning plans.
“The Presidential AI Challenge marks our first step in equipping every child with the knowledge base and tools to utilize this emerging technology,” Melania Trump said. “But this is only the beginning. It is essential that every member of our academic community, including our great educators, administrators, and students rise to this historic challenge with on-going curiosity, perseverance, and ingenuity.”
"Students and educators of all backgrounds and expertise are encouraged to participate," according to the challenge website, and the top prize will be $10,000, with a national championship set for next June and a showcase planned in Washington, D.C.