For the 51-year-old Tucson woman, her voice was more than just a sound – it was her identity. But after doctors told her they had to remove her tongue and voice box due to an invasive cancer in her mouth, Sonya Sotinsky found herself silenced.
In a bold move, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Using AI technology, Sotinsky recorded hundreds of phrases, including happy birthday messages for her husband and daughters, words of encouragement for her employees at the architecture firm she co-owns, and even a string of curse words that are an integral part of her personality.
Sotinsky spent months researching AI companies and eventually found one that could create an exact replica of her voice. The technology allowed her to type what she wanted to say into a text-to-speech app, which translates and broadcasts her artificial intelligence voice through portable speakers.
For Sotinsky, the experience was nothing short of liberating. "She got her sass back," said her daughter Ela Fuentevilla, 23. The AI voice is so similar to Sotinsky's natural voice that it brought tears to their eyes when they first heard it.
The significance of a person's voice cannot be overstated. As Dr. Sue Yom, a radiation oncologist at the University of California-San Francisco, noted, "Your voice is your identity." Losing one's voice can have a profound impact on a person's mental and emotional well-being, leading to feelings of isolation and depression.
Sotinsky knew that she had to fight for her right to use her voice. After facing denial from her health insurance company – which refused to cover the $3,000 cost of her initial assistive speaking technology – she now pays out-of-pocket for her AI voice clone, a monthly expense of $99.
However, Sotinsky's determination has sparked hope for others who have lost their voices due to cancer treatment. Researchers are exploring the potential benefits of AI technology in helping patients regain their communication skills and improve their quality of life. One doctor, Jennifer De Los Santos, is currently working on a clinical trial that aims to measure the impact of AI voice clones on patients' lives.
Sotinsky's story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving one's voice, not just for survival but for the sake of dignity and humanity. As she herself once quipped, "Sarcasm is part of my love language."
In a bold move, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Using AI technology, Sotinsky recorded hundreds of phrases, including happy birthday messages for her husband and daughters, words of encouragement for her employees at the architecture firm she co-owns, and even a string of curse words that are an integral part of her personality.
Sotinsky spent months researching AI companies and eventually found one that could create an exact replica of her voice. The technology allowed her to type what she wanted to say into a text-to-speech app, which translates and broadcasts her artificial intelligence voice through portable speakers.
For Sotinsky, the experience was nothing short of liberating. "She got her sass back," said her daughter Ela Fuentevilla, 23. The AI voice is so similar to Sotinsky's natural voice that it brought tears to their eyes when they first heard it.
The significance of a person's voice cannot be overstated. As Dr. Sue Yom, a radiation oncologist at the University of California-San Francisco, noted, "Your voice is your identity." Losing one's voice can have a profound impact on a person's mental and emotional well-being, leading to feelings of isolation and depression.
Sotinsky knew that she had to fight for her right to use her voice. After facing denial from her health insurance company – which refused to cover the $3,000 cost of her initial assistive speaking technology – she now pays out-of-pocket for her AI voice clone, a monthly expense of $99.
However, Sotinsky's determination has sparked hope for others who have lost their voices due to cancer treatment. Researchers are exploring the potential benefits of AI technology in helping patients regain their communication skills and improve their quality of life. One doctor, Jennifer De Los Santos, is currently working on a clinical trial that aims to measure the impact of AI voice clones on patients' lives.
Sotinsky's story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving one's voice, not just for survival but for the sake of dignity and humanity. As she herself once quipped, "Sarcasm is part of my love language."
. I mean, don't get me wrong, Sonya Sotinsky's determination is pretty impressive, but let's be real, AI voice clones are just a Band-Aid solution for a much deeper issue. What about all the people who can't afford these fancy tech gadgets? Like, what about accessibility in healthcare? 
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. I'm all for innovation and progress, but let's not forget that there are still human beings involved here 
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and now theres researchers trying to use it for ppl who lost their voice due to cancer treatment thats a game changer in my opinion 
can u imagine being able to talk again after yrs of silence? its not just about communication but also mental health i guess shes proof that with determination & tech ur life can be turned around 
Sonya Sotinsky is like literally 51 yr old woman who cant talk 4 ever cuz of cancer n stuff but shes all like "hey AI, help me out" 
! My mom no wat about this 1 bc shes all emotional n stuff but I think its sooo cool. Whoever helps ppl get ther voices back deserves a medal 
$99 a month is a huge burden, but she's still willing to do it because it means that much to her. And honestly, I think that's something we can all learn from - prioritizing our own needs and wanting what makes us happy, even if it means making sacrifices 
That's just amazing! It's like, we're finally starting to see some real progress in using tech to help people with disabilities or health issues. So let's keep cheering Sonya on and supporting her journey 
?! i'm so proud of her for fighting for what's hers - her voice! 
and now others might be inspired by her courage to explore AI tech to help patients regain their voices 
but it's amazing that researchers are now exploring ways to help others who've lost their voices due to cancer treatment 
the impact of losing one's voice can be so profound, and sonya's story is a powerful reminder of its importance 
but at the same time i'm super inspired by Sonya's determination to fight for her right to use her voice again!