U.S. Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) faced the loss of her voice due to Parkinson’s-like progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and relied on common robotic-voiced text-to-speech tools. Now, thanks to AI-powered voice cloning provided by ElevenLabs, she can give speeches in her original voice despite the impact of PSP on her vocal abilities.
After Wexton used robotic-sounding speech on the House floor, ElevenLab reached out to Wexton’s staff. With Wexton’s approval, her team provided ElevenLabs with more than an hour of audio clips from before her diagnosis. In just a few days, ElevenLabs successfully created a digital version of Wexton’s voice, capturing the cadence, tone, and timbre that were once characteristic of her speech, according to the congresswoman and her team. The new voice model was first demonstrated when Wexton addressed the House Appropriations Committee, providing a surprisingly natural sound compared to her previous computer-generated voice.
“Since I began using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device for speeches on the House floor and in committees, I have been inundated with messages of support from disability rights advocates about the importance of demonstrating that just because people like me can’t use our voices in the same way doesn’t mean our words are any less ours or any less important to hear,” Wexton said in a statement.
“You don't understand the importance of accessibility until you're the one who relies on a walker or an AAC device, as I've learned to do over the past year. I hope this next step of adopting an AI voice model can also be a moment to start a conversation about new and creative ways we can continue to empower people facing health and accessibility challenges like mine, and to show that our abilities don't define who we are.”
Your ears aren't lying to you – AI has allowed me to create a new model of my voice, as it was before my PSP. I hope this helps show creative ways we can empower people facing the kinds of health and accessibility challenges I have and show that our abilities don't define us. pic.twitter.com/ztXDjCgi63July 10, 2024
Accessible speech
Wexton noted in his speech that an AI-generated voice not only represents a personal victory, but also highlights the transformative potential of AI to help people with speech disabilities. By restoring a more natural-sounding voice, the technology enhances Wexton’s ability to connect and communicate more authentically with his colleagues and the public.
ElevenLabs has quickly made a name for itself in the AI voice industry. The company’s technology leverages advanced algorithms to not only replicate a person’s voice, but also modulate pitch and inflection, creating a more realistic and natural sound. AI can even bring back the voices of deceased people. The company recently introduced AI versions of the voices of James Dean, Burt Reynolds, Judy Garland, and Sir Laurence Olivier for its Reader app.
The successful implementation of AI-generated voices underscores a broader trend of AI integration into assistive technologies. These advancements not only improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, but also open up new possibilities for inclusion and participation in various spheres of life. By enabling more natural communication, AI technologies can help bridge the gap between ability and disability.
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