Baroness Campbell Delivers First AI-Voiced Speech in UK Parliament Using ElevenLabs

Baroness Campbell of Surbiton, a life peer in the House of Lords, delivered the first speech in UK parliamentary history using an AI-generated voice. Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at age one, Campbell has relied on assistants for speeches since 2012 due to deteriorating vocal ability. The speech, delivered during the Second Reading of the Health Bill, focused on the importance of Personal Health Budgets (PHBs) for disabled individuals.

Voice Cloning and Accessibility

Campbell independently discovered and utilized ElevenLabs voice cloning technology to recreate her voice. By uploading archival audio clips, she generated a synthetic voice that replicated her original tone, rhythm, and pitch. This audio was played through an assistive device in the Chamber, allowing her to convey emotional nuance she had been unable to express for decades. Campbell emphasized that the technology served as a tool for her own words, stating, "I used AI to speak my own words, not to put words into my mouth."

Parliamentary Precedent and Impact

This event marks the second time the House of Lords’ Procedure Committee has granted Campbell an accommodation to participate fully, following a 2012 exception to a 1707 rule prohibiting non-peers from speaking. Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, the Lord Speaker, acknowledged the transformative potential of AI when used for good, despite broader concerns about its misuse. ElevenLabs reports that its technology has already helped restore the voices of more than 11,000 people who lost their voices due to injury or illness, with a commitment to assist one million individuals globally.