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AI Gives Voice Back to Musician With MND
12 Feb
Summary
- Musician Patrick Darling lost his singing voice to motor neurone disease.
- Advanced AI technology recreated his singing voice from past recordings.
- He performed live in London using his AI-generated singing voice.
Patrick Darling, a talented musician and composer, has found a new way to express his passion for music after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) at age 29. The condition progressively stole his singing voice and limited his speech to a few words, forcing him to retire from performing with his band, The Ceili House Band.
A significant breakthrough arrived through AI technology developed by ElevenLabs. This innovative software allowed Mr. Darling to create a digital replica of his speaking voice and, subsequently, a singing voice virtually indistinguishable from his original. This technology transformed recordings of his past performances into a usable singing voice.
This remarkable technological achievement enabled Mr. Darling to return to the stage on Wednesday. He performed 'Ghost Of A Man I Never Met,' a piece he composed using ElevenLabs, alongside bandmates Nick Cocking and Hari Ma. This marked his first live performance with the band since his diagnosis.
Speech therapist Richard Cave highlighted the profound impact of this AI voice technology, calling it a life-changing development for MND patients. He expressed privilege in helping Mr. Darling reclaim his singing voice, describing the live performance as an unforgettable moment.
