The University of Valencia (UV) and the company Vocality.ai have joined forces in an innovative collaboration that fuses historical preservation with educational advances. This project has two main objectives: to revive the voice of Dolores Ibárruri, known as ‘La Pasionaria’, using advanced artificial intelligence techniques, and to modernise language teaching at the UV's Centre d'Idiomes using the same technology. Valencia Plaza reports on this feat in its newspaper
Reviving the voice of La Pasionaria
Dolores Ibárruri was an emblematic figure of 20th century Spanish politics, renowned for her passionate oratory during the Spanish Civil War. Her speeches inspired millions, making her a symbol of resistance and hope. However, with the passage of time, many of her vocal recordings have been lost or deteriorated. To address this challenge, the UV and Vocality.ai have worked to clone her voice from existing sound archives. This process involves digitising and restoring old recordings, followed by the use of deep neural networks to analyse and replicate specific vocal characteristics such as pitch, speed and inflections. The result is a vocal model that captures the essence and emotionality of La Pasionaria, allowing new phrases to be generated in her authentic voice.
Emilio Soria, an artificial intelligence specialist at the UV and collaborator of Vocality.ai, says: ‘The biggest challenge was to work with historical records that, in many cases, were not well preserved. Even so, we have achieved surprising results’. He adds that ‘the resulting model is not only technically accurate, but also captures the essence of Pasionaria, allowing us to relive the strength and emotion with which she transmitted her ideals, bringing her closer to the present in a unique way’.
This cloned voice will be used in the journalistic project ‘#ElMur, Memòria i exili’, a multimedia podcast that will be broadcast by ‘À Punt’ and is sponsored by the Historical Memory area of the Diputació de València. The programme seeks to recover the stories of the thousands of Spaniards who had to go into exile at the end of the Spanish Civil War, fleeing fascism. A team of reporters has travelled to Russia, Mexico, France and the United Kingdom, among other destinations that took in refugees, to compile these stories.
Carlos López-Olano, vice-dean of Communication and Innovation at the UV's Faculty of Philology, Translation and Communication and coordinator of the project, says: ‘This journey through innovation allows us to connect new generations with an essential chapter of our history. He adds that ‘listening to original speeches humanises historical figures and makes their messages more impactful and relevant, transforming the understanding of history into an immersive and meaningful experience. It is an opportunity to reflect on our past using the tools of the future’.
Revolutionising language teaching
The second pillar of this collaboration focuses on the implementation of voice cloning technology at the Centre d'Idiomes de la Universitat de València. This centre is one of the main centres for language teaching, translation and interpreting in the field of higher education at national level, with more than 5,000 students per year and an offer of approximately 370 courses in 12 different languages.
The application of this technology aims to improve the teaching of foreign languages, making oral practice exercises more effective and personalised. Through the technology developed by Vocality.ai, students will be able to interact with generated voices that imitate native speakers in different linguistic contexts. These voices can adjust their speed, accent and pitch to suit the learner's level.
Pedro Morillo, director of the Centre d'Idiomes de la UV, explains: "Personalisation is key. Thanks to this technology, we can offer students a much more immersive and realistic experience. The use of voice cloning strengthens the students' emotional connection with the language, as the personalisation of the experience reduces anxiety and increases motivation". He adds that "this positive bond with the language is essential for learning, as it encourages practice and transforms study into a more enriching and rewarding experience".
In addition to traditional pronunciation exercises, the cloned voices will be used in simulations of everyday situations, such as ordering food in a restaurant or having a job interview with several interlocutors. This technology will also allow students to receive immediate feedback on their pronunciation and grammar, significantly improving their learning.
Morillo also points out that "we have professionalised and significantly improved our language accreditation tools and processes. In the field of language accreditation, we can offer students a wide variety of simulations that allow them to practice and consolidate what they have learned effectively. In addition, the use of cloned voices facilitates the creation of resources in less widely used languages, which helps to foster language education in a wider range of languages and to promote language preservation and learning.
Vocality.ai: Innovation in artificial intelligence
Vocality.ai is a leading company in voice cloning technology created with generative artificial intelligence, offering voices with human warmth and digital speed. The company offers voices in Spanish, Basque and German from professional voice talents, and plans to expand to 20 different languages over the next few years.
languages over the next few years. In addition, its technology is applicable to various sectors, from education to the entertainment industry.
The collaboration with the University of Valencia reinforces its commitment to innovation and its ability to apply its solutions in unique historical and educational contexts. According to Marta Ribera, co-founder of Vocality.ai, "the potential of this technology goes beyond replicating voices; it is about opening new doors to connect the past with the present and improve the learning experience globally".
Cultural and educational impact of the project
The integration of voice cloning in historical projects such as that of Dolores Ibárruri and in the field of education illustrates the versatility of this technology. Its impact extends from the preservation of historical memory to the democratisation of access to personalised educational resources.
In the cultural context, reviving the voice of historical figures allows new generations to reconnect with key moments in history. Listening to a speech in the original voice of its author not only adds an emotional component, but also enriches the understanding of the message. This multimedia approach has the potential to transform how history is told and learned, creating immersive experiences that combine emotion, context and technology.
In education, the personalisation and flexibility offered by Vocality.ai represents a step towards more dynamic language learning tailored to individual needs. The possibility of interacting with voices imitating native speakers in real time marks a radical change in how oral communication is taught and practised.
A project that unites past, present and future
The collaboration between the Universitat de València and Vocality.ai underlines the importance of combining advanced technology with meaningful cultural and educational objectives. This project not only preserves the legacy of historical figures, but also aims to transform language teaching and make it more accessible and inclusive.
In the words of Carlos López-Olano, "this initiative reminds us that technology can and should be used to bring us closer to our roots while building a more connected and educated future". Thus, the voice of La Pasionaria, which once inspired millions, finds a new life thanks to artificial intelligence, demonstrating that the past and the present can come together to generate a lasting impact.
Conclusion
The advance in vocal cloning not only revives voices from the past, such as that of Dolores Ibárruri, but also opens up a world of possibilities for education, journalism and culture. This project, promoted by the Universitat de València and Vocality.ai, is an example of how technology can be combined with history and teaching to transform the way we learn, preserve and connect with our roots.
In an ever-evolving world, initiatives like this stand out for their ability to unite technological innovation with human purpose, enriching both our understanding of the past and the tools to build the future.
