Lawmaker uses AI voice clone to address Congress
www.bbc.com
Virginia Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton has a rare neurological condition that makes it difficult for her to speak.

Virginia Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton used a artificial intelligence (AI) programme to address the House on Thursday. A year ago, the lawmaker was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, which makes it difficult for her to speak.

The AI programme allowed Wexton to make a clone of her speaking voice using old recordings of appearances and speeches she made in Congress. Wexton appears to be the first person to speak on the House floor with a voice recreated by AI.

  • floofloof@lemmy.caEnglish
    0·
    3 months ago

    Is it following her real voice in real time, or is the script preprepared?

    • tardigrada@beehaw.orgOP
      0·
      3 months ago

      That’s a good question non of the artickes I found on the web are answering. But Ms. Wexton spoke to the Time magazine also using the device, and the magazine says:

      During the interview at her dining room table in Leesburg, Virginia, the congresswoman typed out her thoughts, used a stylus to move the text around, hit play and then the AI program put that text into Wexton’s voice. It’s a lengthy process, so the AP provided Wexton with a few questions ahead of the interview to give the congresswoman time to type her answers.

      Source: A Neurological Disorder Stole Her Voice. Jennifer Wexton Took It Back With AI on the House Floor

      [Edit typo.]