SONYA LOST HER TONGUE TO CANCER, BUT FOUND HER VOICE THROUGH AI

Sonya Sotinsky on March 25, 2025, 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 box using past recordings of her speech. 

She recorded herself saying the things she would never again be able to say.

“I’m proud of you,” “happy birthday” and “I love you” topped the phrases she banked for her husband and two daughters.

“When you can’t use your voice, it is very, very frustrating” Sotinsky typed into a wireless keyboard she now carries everywhere.

Pervasive mouth cancer propelled Sotinsky to explore the existential importance of the human voice. Her unique intonation, cadence and slight New Jersey accent were fingerprints of her identity. How we speak is how we express ourselves, connect with others and make sense of the world.

“She got her sass back,” said Sotinsky’s daughter. “When we heard her AI voice, we all cried, my sister, my dad and I. It’s crazy similar.”