Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton Delivers Historic AI-Generated Speech

Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) made history on July 25 by delivering the first-ever speech on the House floor using an AI-generated voice, highlighting Disability Pride Month and her personal battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

Rep. Jennifer Wexton, diagnosed with PSP last year, used an AI voice model to address the House of Representatives. This technology, developed by ElevenLabs, enabled her to speak clearly despite her condition. Wexton’s speech emphasised her ongoing fight for disability rights, a cause she has championed throughout her career.

“I hope that when people see me continuing to do all I can to keep living my life and doing this job I love as best I can, they understand and appreciate the courage, resilience, and spirit that so many Americans of differing abilities demonstrate each and every day. I hope I can be a voice — even an AI voice — for Americans facing accessibility challenges and other disabilities, ” said Wexton in her speech.

ElevenLabs, a speech synthesis company, approached Representative Wexton’s office with the goal of developing a voice model that accurately replicates her speaking voice, rather than the generic sound typically associated with text-to-speech technology.

“Our technology gives individuals who have lost their voice the ability to speak as they once did, with the emotion and passion they feel, and we hoped to help the Congresswoman do just that.” NPR reports Sam Sklar of ElevenLabs saying.

The use of AI to recreate Wexton’s voice represents a significant advancement in assistive technology, offering new opportunities for individuals with speech impairments. However, it also brings attention to the broader implications of AI in society. While AI can empower those with disabilities, it also poses risks, such as the potential for misuse in fraud or misinformation.

Wexton’s experience illustrates both the promise and perils of AI. Her successful use of the technology to maintain her voice in Congress serves as an inspiring example, but she also advocates for stringent regulations to prevent abuse.

“It is humanizing and it is empowering. It can also be dangerous […] I still believe that the dangerous potential of AI technology must be better understood and steps must be taken to prevent abuses of the technology like deepfakes from proliferating and part of that falls on lawmakers like us in Congress” AP reports her saying.

In conclusion, Wexton’s historic speech not only marks a milestone in the use of AI for accessibility but also ignites a necessary conversation about the ethical use of emerging technologies. As AI continues to evolve, balancing its benefits with potential risks will be crucial in shaping a future where technology serves humanity responsibly.