The sexism of AI reflects the reality of the tech industry

Just ask the creators of Alexa or Siri and they will confirm how important their dulcet tones are. Imagine the strain of having Amitabh Bachchan rasp out the weather report in the morning and answering sundry other queries throughout the day. For those still sceptical about the significance of a soothing timbre, there are the findings of a recent Unesco report that examines the implications of the charming feminine voice that almost all virtual assistants have been blessed with. The report noted that technology companies justify the use of obliging female voices by citing surveys that show that this is what consumers of both sexes prefer. What is seldom mentioned is that the same surveys show that people like the sound of a male voice when authoritative statements are being made and a female voice when help is being offered.