Siri Will No Longer Default To Female Voice, Two Voices Added For English Users

Apple’s latest beta version of iOS has two new voices added to Siri’s English offerings and the female voice selection will no longer be by default. Apple users therefore have the option of selecting the Siri voice they desire from the provided options. While setting up Siri, users will be able to choose a voice option that they want, they do no longer have to stick to the female voice that has been by default for years. The voice assistant being female has been quite a controversial topic and this, as experts say, might be the reason why Apple is adding two new Siri voices.

The new update should be available for use soon as the beta version should already have gone live and be available to participants of the program.

Siri default voice is a male voice in some countries and languages, with this new update users can choose whatever voice they want; male or female. A statement put out by Apple read, “We’re excited to introduce two new Siri voices for English speakers and the option for Siri users to select the voice they want when they set up their device. This is a continuation of Apple’s long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion, and products and services that are designed to better reflect the diversity of the world we live in”.

Apple’s decision to make the voice selection of its voice assistant up to users is indeed one to be totally embraced. This is a good idea that that eliminates bias and gives users the choice of selecting whatever voice option they want. As it is said, variety is the spice of life, apart from giving people the freedom of choice, this new update will give users some variety to pick from and enjoy. There is nothing better than having a wide range of options.

The new Siri voices use source talent recordings that are run through Apple’s Neural text to speed engine, making the voices flow more organically through phrases that are actually being generated on the fly. Apple’s new beta will upgrade the Siri voices in Ireland, Russia and Italy to Neural TTS and will bring the total voices using the new tech to 38. According to statistics, Siri has handled over 25 billion requests per month on over 500 million devices and provides supports for 21 languages in 36 countries.