Apple iOS 14.5 Update: Users Choose Siri’s Voice, Female Default Gets Axed

Apple’s upcoming release of iOS 14.5 for iPhone will allow users in the U.S. to choose Siri’s voice rather than defaulting to the female voice.

Apple announced the feature is currently available in the beta version of iOS 14.5, which was released on Wednesday, CNBC reported.

The new software update will not default to the female voice for Siri. Instead, iPhone users will choose from four voices, including two new English language voices.

“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,” a spokesperson for Apple said in a statement.

“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.”

In the past, Apple had default settings for male voices in other regions, but since the release of Siri in 2011, its default in the U.S. has been a woman’s voice.

The default female voices for digital assistants have previously been criticized for reinforcing stereotypes and reflecting the male-dominated artificial intelligence industry.

Although the new feature is only available in the beta version of iOS 14.5, Apple is expected to release the update for all users sometime in “early spring.”

The latest iOS will also feature a solution to battery drain and reduced performance issues with some iPhone 11 devices, according to an Apple support report.

However, the process will take some time before the battery is recalibrated to its maximum capacity and peak performance potential.

Other updates for iOS 14.5 will include new emojis, privacy changes, and unlocking an iPhone using an Apple Watch.