Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton Delivers Historic AI-Generated Speech - 1

Image by AFGE, from Wikimedia

Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton Delivers Historic AI-Generated Speech

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

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.

WhatsApp Reaches 100 Million Active Users In The U.S. - 2

Photo by Oberon Copeland @veryinformed.com on Unsplash

WhatsApp Reaches 100 Million Active Users In The U.S.

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Meta’s instant messaging app WhatsApp has reached 100 million monthly active users in the United States. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, announced it yesterday on his WhatsApp channel.

According to TechCrunch , this is the first time the company shared data about users in the U.S. Whatsapp also mentioned that 50% of American users have iPhones. The milestone is significant as many smartphone owners rely on basic SMS systems—integrated with iMessage on iPhones.

Meta has been portraying WhatsApp as a communication solution between Android and iPhone users, investing in big marketing campaigns addressed to users in the U.S. One of its newest commercials went viral last month as it featured part of the cast from the popular show Modern Family . “If your group has different phones, just use WhatsApp. It’s seamless and private,” says the painter in the commercial.

‘Modern Family’ cast reunites for a WhatsApp commercial. pic.twitter.com/SYDXJZKbVq — Pop Base (@PopBase) June 18, 2024

WhatsApp’s largest user base is in India where the platform has 500 million active users, followed by Brazil—where Meta recently withdrew generative AI services —and Indonesia.

According to The Verge , WhatsApp also announced that the fastest-growing U.S. locations are Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. The company also emphasized that southern cities have embraced the platform as well and that there are over 10 million active users in Texas.

“The biggest messaging app in the world, has experienced tremendous growth in the U.S.,” said WhatsApp spokesperson Ashley O’Reilly in the press release, as reported by The Verge.

Meta bought WhatsApp in 2014 for $16 billion and has invested in making it popular in the U.S. and the world. The messaging platform currently has 2 billion users across 180 countries

Last month, Meta introduced new WhatsApp tools for businesses , such as targeted ads, and just a few days ago the platform announced a new AI-powered feature to create personalized avatars.