Siri’s voice will no longer be feminine by default. With the latest update of the operating system iOS 14.5 (currently in beta), iPhone and iPad users in the US will have the ability to configure the virtual assistant according to their preferences during installation. The change will be effective as soon as it is extended to everyone and not only available to developers.
Apple has also added two new English voices for Siri that can be selected by users of this language. Currently, it is possible to choose between two options, male and female, and six different accents (American, British, Indian, South African, Australian and Irish). Thanks to the new update the range of voices is expanded and perfected.
The changes introduced are an expression of the Cupertino company’s commitment to greater diversity and inclusion. Apple’s services and products are increasingly being made with the aim of reflecting these characteristics.
On the other hand, the criticism of big tech companies for fostering sexism and gender stereotypes with their digital assistants, moved by bodies such as the United Nations, have had their effect.
The new iOS version 14.5, which will also allow you to unlock an iPhone using Apple Watch, it also includes support for the Neural TTS system, which is able to exploit neural networks to improve the performance and capacity of Siri’s voice. The assistant Siri, who sees a ‘continuous expansion of functions and tasksi, is increasingly used by users: it handles about 25 billion requests per month on over 500 million devices.