Apple fixing iPhone voice typing bug that mixes ‘Trump’ and ‘racist’

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Apple has admitted to a bizarre and unexpected glitch affecting the iPhone’s dictation feature. The glitch causes the word “Trump” to briefly appear on the screen when a user dictates the word “racist.” 

The issue has gained widespread attention on social media, with a viral video showing the phenomenon. We tried it but were unable to replicate it.

The unusual substitution first surfaced on Tuesday when users began sharing their experiences on TikTok and other platforms, prompting discussions and speculation about its cause. 

The anomaly has drawn mixed reactions, ranging from amusement to suspicion. Some question whether it was the result of an intentional modification rather than a simple error.

Apple blames ‘phonetic overlap’ for this dictation bug

In response to growing attention, Apple provided a statement to The New York Times and Fox News, acknowledging the problem and confirming that a fix was in progress. (via: The Verge)

A company spokesperson explained that the issue originates from a flaw in the speech recognition model that powers iPhone dictation. 

Apple stated that the underlying cause is likely phonetic similarity between the words “Trump” and “racist,” which has led to the unintended text substitution. 

Additionally, the company noted that the same recognition issue may also affect other words featuring an “r” consonant. 

However, John Burkey, a former Apple engineer who had previously worked on the Siri team, expressed skepticism about the explanation. 

In an interview with the Times, Burkey suggested that the glitch had the characteristics of an intentional prank, implying that it may have been deliberately inserted into the system by an insider rather than being a mere algorithmic accident.

Beyond the technical explanation, the timing of the glitch is noteworthy. It emerged just one day after Apple announced its commitment to invest over $500 billion in the US over the next four years. 

Have you encountered this bug? What do you think could be the reason for this glitch? Tell us what you think in the comments, below, or via our Twitter or Facebook.