Breaking Communication Barriers: The Launch of SMF VoXAI by Scott-Morgan Foundation and D-ID

Transforming Lives Through Technology: The Launch of SMF VoXAI

On December 10, 2025, the Scott-Morgan Foundation, partnering with D-ID, unveiled the groundbreaking SMF VoXAI platform at the AI Summit in New York City. This innovative multi-agent AI technology aims to restore meaningful communication to millions of individuals with severe communication disabilities. This initiative represents a significant leap in the ethical and human-centered design of artificial intelligence, bridging the gap created by disability and offering a voice to those often unheard.

The journey towards SMF VoXAI began five years ago under the leadership of LaVonne Roberts, the CEO of Scott-Morgan Foundation. This initiative gathered various stakeholders, including disability advocates, academic institutions, and a consortium of NVIDIA Inception AI companies. Central to this project is the ethos of not designing for individuals with disabilities, but rather designing with them. This collaborative spirit is evident in the technological advancements achieved through rigorous testing and development, especially by the students of Tecnológico de Monterrey. These students contributed hundreds of hours advancing what is now known as SMF VoXAI.

Notably, the platform was conceived by the Foundation’s Chief Technologist, Bernard Muller, who has been living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for years. Through his experience, Muller utilized only eye-tracking technology to design the system, demonstrating how those who face barriers can lead the creation of solutions to overcome them. "Today, a technologist who's lived with ALS for 15 years has designed AI coordination that restores agency instead of replacing it," said Roberts, emphasizing the importance of user-driven design.

SMF VoXAI harnesses D-ID's Real-Time Streaming API and employs advanced agentic AI capabilities to craft lifelike digital avatars that articulate users' words and emotions instantaneously. This immediacy is crucial, as individuals communicating through eye-tracking often face delays that can result in emotional distress or feelings of isolation. The technology’s low-latency response time ensures that users can engage in timely conversations.

Globally, over 100 million people experience significant speech limitations, with ALS alone affecting more than 340,000 individuals. Traditional augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices can be prohibitively expensive, costing between $10,000 to $15,000, but SMF VoXAI aims to combat this issue with its freemium model—offering free basic access worldwide and premium features for just $30 per month. This initiative not only democratizes access to technology but also fulfills the Foundation's mission of empowering people to live rich, full lives without limitations.

"Technology should restore presence, not just provide function," remarked Thorsten Stremlau, CTO at Scott-Morgan Foundation, reflecting on the vision inspired by Stephen Hawking and Dr. Peter Scott-Morgan himself. This sentiment is echoed in the very design of SMF VoXAI, which aims to ensure users are not just participating passively in conversations but are fully engaged and represented.

The launch at the AI Summit also highlighted plans for a two-year global research initiative led by Dr. Antonio Ortiz at Tecnológico de Monterrey. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of D-ID’s expressive avatars in enhancing communication and emotional presence in real-time scenarios. It promises to deliver the first empirical data on how such advanced AI technologies can improve quality of life for individuals living with communication disabilities.

In conclusion, the introduction of SMF VoXAI marks a pivotal moment in the intersection of technology and accessibility. As stated by Gil Perry, CEO at D-ID, this represents the next evolution of collaboration between humans and machines, fostering an environment where communication is both accessible and emotionally intelligent. SMF VoXAI does not merely amplify voices; it restores identities, enabling individuals like Bernard Muller to express their emotions through digital avatars that resonate with humanity. As we move forward, we can only hope to witness the profound impact this technology will have on transforming lives globally.