Israeli TV reporter who lost ability to speak clearly, seeks AI’s help to get back on air

When a renowned Israeli TV journalist lost his ability to speak clearly because of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, he thought his career might be over. Mr. Nussbaum, 71, was diagnosed two years ago with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease that attacks nerve cells that control muscles throughout the body. “Slowly, slowly, I'm understanding the incredible meaning of this device for everyone with disabilities, including me.” Mr. Nussbaum will report his stories, and then write them up, using an AI programme that has been trained to speak using Mr. Nussbaum's voice. In contrast, AI technology is trained using recordings of a person's voice — there are thousands of hours of Mr. Nussbaum speaking thanks to his lengthy career in TV and radio — and it can mimic their intonations and phrasing. Ahead of the broadcasts, Channel 12 released a preview showing snippets of Mr. Nussbaum speaking naturally — garbled and difficult to understand — followed by the new “Nussi AI.” The new version sounds strikingly like the old Mr. Nussbaum, speaking quickly and emphatically.