A voice that recalls a generation: AI has restored the sound of Afzal Rafikov.

Afzal Rafikov, whose voice became iconic through the dubbing of numerous films, series, and animated features, has been compelled to battle the consequences of a severe illness. Following a surgery on his vocal cords, his voice lost its former strength and recognizability, which significantly limited his opportunities for voice acting and stage performances.

Despite these challenges, Rafikov did not leave the stage and continued to work in film and theater, although the changed tone of his voice greatly reduced the number of roles offered to him. To restore the former recognizability of the actor's voice, AIM Lab utilized speech-to-speech technology. The company collected archival recordings of Rafikov's work and trained a neural network based on this data, allowing it to transform Rafikov's new voice while preserving its original sound.

The speech-to-speech technology enables the analysis of the original voice and its recreation in a digital format. Now, despite the changes in Rafikov's voice after the surgery, he can continue to dub films and projects with the same intonation and unique timbre that has been known and loved by audiences for decades.

“The use of artificial intelligence technologies in this case demonstrates how the latest developments can be directed towards solving real human problems. This is not a replacement for the actor's talent, but a means to preserve and convey his unique qualities to new generations,” commented AIM Lab founder Hikmatilla Ubaidullayev.

This project serves as further proof of how artificial intelligence can support the creative industry and expand opportunities for individuals facing physical limitations. Restoring Afzal Rafikov's voice with the help of AI not only symbolizes technological progress but also showcases how innovations can work for the sake of preserving cultural heritage.