iOS 14.5 adds new Siri voices, default is no longer female



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The sixth beta of iOS 14.5 which was released this morning features two new Siri voices available in English, as well as a new configuration selection option that will allow users to choose their preferred ‌Siri‌ voice rather than choosing one by default. female voice in the United States. .

The ‌Siri‌ changes have been described by TechCrunch, and the site says the two new voices will add more diversity in the sound and pattern of speech. In a statement, Apple said the change was a continuation of its commitment to diversity and inclusion.

We are excited to introduce two new ‌Siri‌ voices for English speakers and the ability for ‌Siri‌ users to select their preferred voice when setting up their device. It’s a continuation of Apple’s long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion, and products and services designed to better reflect the diversity of the world we live in.

The new voices that have been added use source talent recordings executed through Apple’s neural engine to make voices “flow more organically” through on-the-fly generated phrases.

After upgrading to iOS 14.5, the “‌Siri‌ & Search” part of the Settings app has an updated “‌Siri‌ Voice” option. The wording “Accent” has been replaced by “Variety” and there is no longer a “Sex” selection. Instead, you now have four “American” voice options to choose from.

Today’s beta also improves ‌Siri‌ voices in Ireland, Russia and Italy to add Apple’s Neural text to speech, bringing the total number of devices using this technology to 38. ‌Siri‌ supports now 25 billion queries out of over 500 million voices and supports 21 languages ​​in 36 countries.

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