Lewis Moody says using AI to bank voice ‘warming’ after being diagnosed with MND

Lewis Moody says using AI to bank his voice after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease has been “warming”.

The 47-year-old former England rugby union international announced in October that he was suffering from MND, an incurable and life-limiting neurological condition that affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord.

MND affects speech by weakening the muscles in the mouth, tongue, lips and chest, and the ability to speak can be lost completely.

"I can just get to be the most focused in this space, and it brings with it a new energy and a new purpose and a new strength" ❤️

Lewis Moody opens up on being diagnosed with MND and how he wants to make a positive impact. pic.twitter.com/v59pAXEbgE

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 7, 2026

On the idea of using technology to create a personalised artificial voice, Moody told Sky Sports: “The idea of doing it, I probably delayed for a while at the start because I was like ‘no, I don’t need to do that, I’m fine’.

“But why wouldn’t you, especially with the advancement of AI now, or all the stuff that’s happening in this space, is that the more information you can have for the tools and the algorithms, then the better.

“So, I’ve done numerous things. One of my mates, Dodge, has got a studio that we borrowed, and he’s recording videos that you can create virtual avatars and the voice.

“And also, content around my behaviours and thought processes so that AI eventually can have the ability to predict what you’re thinking.

“Actually knowing that there is something, or that there is a better way of making effective communication easy – and that’s been really sort of warming.”

Former back-rower Moody – part of England’s 2003 World Cup-winning squad – said the thought of not