Apple’s Siri will no longer default to a female voice in English.
Apple has added two new voices to its assistant Siri, as well as eliminating the default female voice in the latest version of iOS.
The use of a female voice for virtual assistants has long been controversial for gender-typing a helpful, virtual companion.
In 2019 a report suggested that using female voices by default for voice assistants “sends a signal that women are obliging, docile and eager-to-please helpers available at the touch of a button or with a blunt voice command”.
Apple said its decision will put the onus on users to choose the voice of its assistant.