SIRI is getting a brand new voice.
With the release of an upcoming iOS update, iPhone users will have the option to switch to a gender-neutral virtual assistant.
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When selected, Siri will be less explicitly male- or female-sounding than the two options users can currently choose from.
The move is part of Apple’s push to make its voice-activated helper, which it launched in 2011, more inclusive.
The company says the new voice was recorded by a member of the LGBTQ+ community, although it didn’t offer further details.
The voice was added with the beta versions of iOS 15.4 that were released to developers and the public on Tuesday.
Plans for its release were later confirmed by Apple in a statement issued to American news website Axios.
“We’re excited to introduce a new Siri voice for English speakers, giving users more options to choose a voice that speaks to them,” Apple said.
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“Millions of people around the world rely on Siri every day to help get things done, so we work to make the experience feel as personalised as possible.”
While beta versions of iOS 15.4 rolled out this week, the full release isn’t expected to launch publicly until next month.
When it does hit your device, you can change Siri’s voice by heading to Settings > Siri and Search > Siri Voice.
The virtual Siri assistant lives on every iPhone and iPad and can send and read texts, set alarms and timers and search the web for you.
Powered by artificial intelligence, the software was by default voiced by a white woman until last year.
Following the release of iOS 14.5, people setting up an Apple device are now asked to choose their preferred Siri voice.
English speakers can choose between male and female voices with a number of different accents, including American, British and Indian.
For the American variant, users may also switch between white and black female and male Siri voices.
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In other news, a British woman has told of her horror after scammers used photos of a “silver fox” politician to trick her out of £80,000.
Norfolk County Council is suing Apple over what it says was misleading information about iPhone sales.
The creators of a chilling new horror game say that the title is so disturbing they’ve been forced to censor it on PlayStation.
And, Apple has announced updates to AirTags following claims that the coin-sized tracking devices are being used to stalk people.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
