In the newest beta update of iOS, Apple is adding two new voices to Siri's English options, as well as eliminating the existing "female voice" range, in an attempt to reduce gender disparity.
Apple said in a statement on Wednesday, "We're excited to launch two new Siri voices for English speakers, as well as the ability for Siri users to pick the voice they like when they set up their computer." It went on to say, "This is a continuation of Apple's long-standing dedication to diversity and inclusion, as well as goods and services that best represent the diversity of the world we live in." Users of the iPhone and iPad will be able to choose their favourite Siri voice during mobile setup with the new update. According to a TechCrunch study, this is a good move forward because it encourages users to use their preferred voice without being influenced by default bias.
“Companies like Apple and Amazon, whose tech teams are predominantly male, have developed AI programmes that cause their feminised digital assistants to greet verbal harassment with catch-me-if-you-can flirtation,” according to the study.The two new voices also offer Siri's voice some much-needed diversity. The two new voices are created using source talent recordings, which are then processed by Apple's Neural text to speech engine. The new voices are open to English-speaking users all over the world, and Siri users can pick from 16 different voices.
Comments