Cancer stole her voice. AI, curse words, and children's books saved it

Sonya Sotinksy sits at Crane Cove Park in San Francisco on March 25, 2025. Sotinsky was diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer and underwent surgery to remove her tongue, larynx, and other structures. She then worked with researchers to create an AI-generated voice using past recordings of her speech.

Sonya Sotinsky recorded herself talking and reading books to preserve a critical element of her personality: her voice. After surgery for oral cancer, AI used those recordings to re-create her voice.

(Image credit: Beth LaBerge)