AI helped US lawmakers speak.
AI Voice Generator: Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has come as an angel in the life of an American MP who lost her voice due to illness. Jennifer Wexton, a Democrat member of Congress from Northern Virginia, has almost regained her speaking ability through an AI program. After losing her voice due to a neurological disorder, AI technology was used to clone her voice during her presence and speech in the US Parliament.
This was the first time someone delivered a speech in the US House with an AI-cloned voice. Wexton said about listening to her voice created by AI that it was the most beautiful thing ever. Now she AI She is able to communicate with them. AI has become an option for her through which she can put her point across to everyone.
Wexton used to use this app earlier
In 2023, Wexton learned that he was suffering from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). This is a serious neurological disorder that causes speech problems. Because of this, he even announced to contest the 2024 elections.
As his condition worsened, Wexton resorted to using a common text-to-speech app to communicate, but this made him sound more robotic than human.
ElevenLabs helped
Wexton was having a lot of trouble with the text-to-speech app. In such a situation, AI startup ElevenLabs contacted him in his office. This company is famous all over the world for its voice cloning service. ElevenLabs created Wexton’s voice from its AI model.
Now she communicates using an iPad. She types her words on the iPad, and it is converted into her voice through an AI program.
I spoke in the House today to mark Disability Pride Month.
I hope I can be a voice — even an AI voice — for Americans who are facing accessibility challenges and other disabilities.
Often people only see us as that disability, when in reality, we are so much more than that.pic.twitter.com/tDwe2A3QsU
— Rep. Jennifer Wexton (@RepWexton) July 25, 2024
Wexton first used the cloned voice during a meeting with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office earlier this month.
Increased privacy
For Wexton’s privacy and security, her team has given access to her voice to only three people. Apart from this, the security of the AI program has also been increased. Despite the potential dangers, Wexton considers AI to empower humans, but emphasizes that its dangerous potential should be understood to prevent deepfakes.
