AFL icon Neale Daniher has endured a well-documented battle with motor neurone disease (MND), which took away his ability to speak. But thanks to new AI technology, he has regained that power.
While unable to verbally speak for himself, AI has transformed his once-robotic-sounding artificial voice into an accurate replica of what he sounded like in the past, using samples from his previous press conferences.
The system uses eye-gaze technology that tracks the movement of his eyes over a digital keyboard to produce spoken words. Hearing his voice as the product of this technology has amazed his loved ones.
Neale's son Luke said that he was "blown away, having not heard him for a while," in an interview with Channel 7, with his wife Jan adding that "it's really exciting and the first time we heard it we were just gobsmacked."
Neale Daniher can now use his own voice again despite the debilitating effects of motor neurone disease. It is all thanks to artificial intelligence and will be unveiled to the public on his first official interstate visit as Australian of the Year. @NickMcCallum7 #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/dblt5aGc4D
โ 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) April 1, 2025
Daniher was diagnosed with MND in 2013 and has since been on a campaign to find a cure for the debilitating disease.
He has been the brains trust behind the annual "Big Freeze at the G" event that sees blue beanies flood the crowd and celebrities slide into a pool of ice in an attempt to raise funds to find a cure for the disease.
The work he has put into raising awareness has also helped him to be named Australian of the Year in 2025.
Daniher had an illustrious coaching career after only playing 82 games in his injury-riddled playing time. He coached Melbourne from 1998 to 2007, taking them all the way to the Grand Final in 2000.
