MANY iPhone users have only just realized that Siri has a gender-neutral voice option.
Tech-giant Apple in March 2022 unveiled a “neutral-gender” voice for Siri.
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Siri is Apple’s virtual assistant that is part of iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS, and audioOS operating systems
The new feature was one of many settings that were launched with the iPhone’s iOS 15.4 system update.
Originally, Siri had been equipped with a female-sounding voice only.
In fact, most digital assistants, including Amazon’s Alexa and Microsoft’s Cortana by default, have female names and voices.
The newer voice, however, does not sound obviously male or female.
Apple revealed that the voice was recorded by a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Cupertino-based company had not identified who recorded the voice, according to a report by Axios.
In giving Siri a gender-neutral voice, Apple took a massive step away from criticism that digital assistants traditionally reinforce gender bias.
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At the time, the decision by Apple had iPhone users rejoicing on social media platforms such as Twitter.
“If you update to the new iOS 15.4, there’s a new Siri voice provided by an LGBTQ+ individual :),” one user tweeted.
“The new genderless Siri voice, I love it,” a second Twitter user proclaimed.
How to enable Siri’s gender-neutral voice
First, users need to head into their iPhone’s Settings > select Siri & Search.
From there tap Siri Voice > tap American > select Voice 5.
For now, it seems that the gender-neutral option only comes in an American accent.
It’s unclear if Apple will add gender-neutral voices in different accents, but here’s hoping.
