For better or worse, Apple’s voice activated personal assistant – called Siri – has become an integral part of the iPhone and iPad. Now, the voice actor behind all of those useful and not-so useful responses appears to have come forward.
It’s Susan Bennett.
Apple hasn’t verified her claim, but a report by CNN has corroborated it with an audio-forensics expert and those who represent her legally.
“I really had to weigh the importance of it for me personally,” she said. “I wasn’t sure that I wanted that notoriety, and I also wasn’t sure where I stood legally. And so, consequently, I was very conservative about it for a long time.”
An article and video feature by The Verge investigated the origins of Siri last month and led some readers to conclude that Allison Dufty was behind the U.S. version of the voice-enabled assistant.
Dufty rejected the notion on her personal website shortly afterwards. Bennett was intrigued by the commotion and debate that the piece had triggered and then considered whether to come forward.
“It seemed like everyone was clamoring to find out who the real voice behind Siri is, and so I thought, well, you know, what the heck? This is the time.”
This accompanying video report by CNN is worth checking out, if only so you can judge Bennett’s claims for yourself.
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