People just prefer feminine voices in AI. There are a number of hypotheses about it but I don't think we have any solid proof as to why. Definitely could be a preference for women as servants compared to men, but it could be a whole lot of other stuff too.
The stereotypical satnav also has a British voice, so it's entirely possible there's a clarity factor. Like I'm guessing with every baffling decision there's some poorly designed study from 1972 that said British women are easier to understand, and no one wants to risk their job changing that.
Like I’m guessing with every baffling decision there’s some poorly designed study from 1972 that said British women are easier to understand,
That is basically the actual case, yes, though AFAIK it was even earlier and may not have even had the pretense of a study instead of just some officers deciding it was "intuitively correct" and rolling with it.
My theory is that some of tge people making it grew up on the old sci fi that trafficked more knowingly in the women as servants thing, but by the 90s/early 2000s that trope had become more about "this is how you know you're in a Serious, High-Tech Location", because there's a computer with a lady's voice running things. So you still have the female-sounding voice acting in a techno-caretaker/secretary role, but the appeal becomes less about the novelty of that and more about the sophistication it's meant to signify.
Pop culture imitating old military "bitchin' betty" (prerecorded alert lines) systems which used a female voice because of the (later disproven) idea that in an emergency situation a woman's voice would be easier to hear clearly because of the higher pitch. People have grown up with that being the pop culture standard, so they perpetuate it themselves.
Also why are the voices all women? Is it some subconscious sexism, or what?
Would your average chud throw a tantrum if Alexa was Alex?
Idk, just trying to think here.
People just prefer feminine voices in AI. There are a number of hypotheses about it but I don't think we have any solid proof as to why. Definitely could be a preference for women as servants compared to men, but it could be a whole lot of other stuff too.
I think it started with sat navs as many people preferred to not be bossed around by a man and then it just became expected
The stereotypical satnav also has a British voice, so it's entirely possible there's a clarity factor. Like I'm guessing with every baffling decision there's some poorly designed study from 1972 that said British women are easier to understand, and no one wants to risk their job changing that.
That is basically the actual case, yes, though AFAIK it was even earlier and may not have even had the pretense of a study instead of just some officers deciding it was "intuitively correct" and rolling with it.
Tbh if I could get a Diana Burnwood voice I would unmute my map app
One of my friends always had the voices be male on their devices so they could 'chill with the boys'.
You don't use male assistant voices because you think women should serve you.
I don't have male voices on anything cause I don't like men.
We are not the same
My theory is that some of tge people making it grew up on the old sci fi that trafficked more knowingly in the women as servants thing, but by the 90s/early 2000s that trope had become more about "this is how you know you're in a Serious, High-Tech Location", because there's a computer with a lady's voice running things. So you still have the female-sounding voice acting in a techno-caretaker/secretary role, but the appeal becomes less about the novelty of that and more about the sophistication it's meant to signify.
German chuds whined about their GPS voice giving them orders sounded like a woman
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Pop culture imitating old military "bitchin' betty" (prerecorded alert lines) systems which used a female voice because of the (later disproven) idea that in an emergency situation a woman's voice would be easier to hear clearly because of the higher pitch. People have grown up with that being the pop culture standard, so they perpetuate it themselves.