Moshe Nussbaum, a famous Israeli TV journalist, thought his career was over after he got sick with ALS, a disease that makes it hard to speak and move. But now, at age 71, he is back on the screen thanks to special AI technology that can recreate his unique voice.
Nussbaum was diagnosed with ALS two years ago. He promised his fans on Channel 12 News that he would keep working as long as he could. But over time, it became harder for him to talk. He had spent over 40 years reporting on important events in Israel, like wars and political scandals. However, during the recent war in Gaza, he could not report from the field for the first time in his career.
Even though ALS made speaking difficult, Nussbaum tried to continue his work by interviewing injured soldiers in hospitals. Sadly, as his condition worsened, he began to do fewer interviews.
Recently, Channel 12 announced that Nussbaum would return to the air as a commentator, using AI to help him speak. “It took me a moment to realize it was my voice,” he said in a text message. With the AI program, which learned from his previous recordings, he will be able to report stories and be filmed as if he’s presenting them himself, even if he can’t speak as clearly as before.
The AI technology has improved a lot and can now sound natural and emotional, unlike earlier robotic voices. Nussbaum feels excited about this technology because it could help many people with disabilities, but he is also concerned about how it can be misused to spread false information.
Although the technology does not yet work for live broadcasts, Nussbaum will focus on commentary about crime and national security. In a preview, viewers heard him speaking with the new AI voice, saying it felt strange but also heartfelt to sit in the studio again.
AI voice cloning has been used in various ways, both good and bad. While it helps people with speech problems, it can also be used to trick people or create fake news. Nussbaum hopes that by using AI, he can raise awareness about the abilities of people with disabilities and show that they can still work effectively.
He said this chance to reinvent himself is crucial in his fight against ALS: “This is one of the most important medicines I can get.”
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