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AI-Recreated Voice Lets Patrick Darling Perform Live Again After MND

AI software recreated his singing from old home recordings to enable a live debut of his new song in London.

Overview

  • The 32-year-old Bristol musician, diagnosed with motor neurone disease at 29, lost his ability to sing and most speech.
  • He performed on Wednesday in London, debuting Ghost Of A Man I Never Met with Ceili House Band members Nick Cocking and Hari Ma.
  • ElevenLabs used archival practice recordings to generate a singing voice resembling his original, building on a prior replica of his speaking voice.
  • Darling directs vocal nuances by typing instructions through assistive technology, which the software renders as his voice.
  • Speech therapist Richard Cave, who collaborated on the voice design, said Darling was the first patient to trial this approach and praised its impact; The Times reports the software is free for people with MND.