Apple AI transcription service calls grandmother a "piece of ****"
Occurred: March 2025
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Apple's AI-powered voice-to-text service mistakenly transcribed a voicemail from a car dealership into a profanity-laced message, referring to a Scottish grandmother as a "piece of s**t" and inquiring about her sex life, leaving her bemused and shocked.ย
What happened
Louise Littlejohn, a 66-year-old woman from Dunfermline, Scotland, received a voicemail from Lookers Land Rover in Motherwell inviting her to an event.ย
However, Apple's AI transcription service misinterpreted the message, resulting in a text that included vulgar language and inappropriate sexual references.ย
Initially, Littlejohn suspected it was a scam but recognized the caller's post code and realised it was from a garage where she had previously purchased a vehicle.
Why it happened
The error likely resulted from the AI struggling with the caller's Scottish accent, background noise at the garage, and the scripted delivery of the message.
What it means
The incident highlights the potential pitfalls of relying on AI for communication tasks, particularly when dealing with diverse accents and noisy environments.
System ๐ค
Dictation ๐
Operator: Louise Littlejohn
Developer: Apple
Country: UK
Sector: Automotive
Purpose: Convert voice to text
Technology: Voice to text; Machine learning
Issue: Safety
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Page info
Type: Incident
Published: March 2025