4 ms·

As an aside, I don't know what to think of the fact that all AI assistant are made to appear female.

y2bd 9y ago
I imagine the skeuomorphism being invoked is that secretaries are stereotypically women.
AndrewUnmuted 9y ago
Likely a design choice that stems from how humans react to the voices of each gender. Female voices are generally better for voice communications which convey details, information, and other non-commands. Male voices are generally used to communicate from a sense of authority. Take for instance the NYC subway system. The female voice announces the stop the train has just arrived at, while the male voice instructs customers to 'stand clear of the closing doors' and to 'be aware of pickpockets, take care to ensure the safety of your personal property.' This is quite intentional. We simply react better when certain types of voices are used to convey certain things. Source: former audiobook, VO, and podcast casting director.
- DanBC 9y ago
  "Bitching Betty" / 'Nagging Nora" show that command voices in safety critical situations can often be female voices. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitching_Betty https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitching_Betty
  - AndrewUnmuted 9y ago
    Yes, but using that type of female voice for your consumer product would be a very bad design decision.
virmundi 9y ago
They are less intimidating and on the whole easier to listen to. http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/21/tech/innovation/female-computer-voices/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/21/tech/innovation/female-compute...
yathern 9y ago
I think it's partially as a result of early science fiction movies having male-voiced robot antagonists. Mostly HAL.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
intopieces 9y ago
Siri, at least, gives the option for a male voice. And BWM diid apparently recall their GPS voice system in the 90s because drivers did not want to take direction from a woman: https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/27244/did-bmw-recall-their-gps-system-due-to-its-female-voice https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/27244/did-bmw-r....
savanaly 9y ago
I'm sorry, but if I hear a male AI voice, I'm thinkin HAL, and that's just how it is.
mavhc 9y ago
Siri in UK defaults to a male voice

y2bd 9y ago

I imagine the skeuomorphism being invoked is that secretaries are stereotypically women.

Likely a design choice that stems from how humans react to the voices of each gender. Female voices are generally better for voice communications which convey details, information, and other non-commands. Male voices are generally used to communicate from a sense of authority. Take for instance the NYC subway system. The female voice announces the stop the train has just arrived at, while the male voice instructs customers to 'stand clear of the closing doors' and to 'be aware of pickpockets, take care to ensure the safety of your personal property.' This is quite intentional. We simply react better when certain types of voices are used to convey certain things. Source: former audiobook, VO, and podcast casting director.

DanBC 9y ago
"Bitching Betty" / 'Nagging Nora" show that command voices in safety critical situations can often be female voices. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitching_Betty https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitching_Betty
- AndrewUnmuted 9y ago
  Yes, but using that type of female voice for your consumer product would be a very bad design decision.

virmundi 9y ago

They are less intimidating and on the whole easier to listen to. http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/21/tech/innovation/female-computer-voices/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/21/tech/innovation/female-compute...

yathern 9y ago

I think it's partially as a result of early science fiction movies having male-voiced robot antagonists. Mostly HAL.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

intopieces 9y ago

Siri, at least, gives the option for a male voice. And BWM diid apparently recall their GPS voice system in the 90s because drivers did not want to take direction from a woman: https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/27244/did-bmw-recall-their-gps-system-due-to-its-female-voice https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/27244/did-bmw-r....

savanaly 9y ago

I'm sorry, but if I hear a male AI voice, I'm thinkin HAL, and that's just how it is.

mavhc 9y ago

Siri in UK defaults to a male voice