There may be global concerns over the influence and impact of Artificial Intelligence, but one Territorian embraces the technology wholeheartedly. Daniel Lalara has a degenerative disease which has left his paralysed and resorting to a cumbersome alphabet board to communicate. But he has found that turning to AI means he is able to better identify and convey complex thoughts and feelings.
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00:00Ten years ago, Daniel had his last conversation.
00:06He was always like the cheeky run amok one, the best at hide and seek.
00:10You know, the one running amok on my 16th birthday.
00:13Daniel has Mercado-Joseph disease, or MJD.
00:16It deteriorates nerve and muscle, and took his voice.
00:19Like most people diagnosed with the disorder, within 10 years of symptoms emerging,
00:24Daniel became dependent on others.
00:26His father had MJD before he passed.
00:30Obviously Daniel has it, and he's been living with it for quite a while.
00:35The Northern Territory has the highest rates of MJD in the world,
00:39with over 800 Indigenous Australians thought to be at risk.
00:43It's a hereditary disease, passed down from parent to child,
00:46with a 50-50 chance of children developing symptoms.
00:50MJD is also, you know, cruel in its way that Daniel's completely cognitive,
00:55and he just doesn't have the means to physically be able to speak to you.
00:59When a family member recently developed MJD, Daniel looked to new technology
01:03to help them navigate life with the disorder.
01:06You've always been a leader in your community like that.
01:09Yes, that's a big nod. I really agree.
01:13Daniel and his psychologist used AI to source information about MJD,
01:17and blend it with his own life experience to channel his thoughts into a heartfelt message.
01:22With the AI, we're sort of getting not just a word or a stick,
01:27we're getting meat on the bone, and it's developing into a strong muscle.
01:31The message they created was then used to reignite Daniel's old way of forming connections through music.
01:42And it was more than just jazzy saxophone to his family and friends.
01:46I'm a friend of Daniel's. We've been friends since we were teenagers,
01:49and I haven't heard his voice for 10 years.
01:52I think it's a really good example of, like, the good use of AI,
01:56because there's so much contention around it,
01:58and the fact that it can give a voice to the voiceless.
02:02Unable to speak, but heard once again.