Is there a way to go back to the default siri voice under IOS 18?

lobsterghost1 wrote:

The difference I hear is Siri uses more inflection, more like a real person would. I find it nicer to listen to. Perhaps, I'm just weird! And I don't know if having Apple Intelligence makes a difference or not, but I do have Apple Intelligence.

I'll have to pay more attention. I also have Apple Intelligence.

Lawrence Finch wrote:

I agree, it is more natural sounding. However, it can be disconcerting: Search for “The Uncanny Valley” for a possible explanation→https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley

When I asked Siri if its voice had changed, it said, "I am currently speaking at 81%."

lobsterghost1 wrote:

whereas I don't have any issue expressing my displeasure with Alexa, from time to time! 😉

"Alexa, shut the expletive up!" is not infrequently heard in my house.

lobsterghost1 wrote:

But I suspect most people haven't even noticed the change, nor object to it much.

If the British guy changed, I didn't notice it (and the Apple Hearing Test says my hearing is good). But, even if it did, I wouldn't find it a big deal.

I still miss the old Mac voices. I never used them much, but the samples were fun to listen to. There was a very sad one that said, "The light you see at the end of the tunnel is the headlight of an oncoming train," when you clicked on the sample.

lobsterghost1 wrote:

The difference I hear is Siri uses more inflection, more like a real person would. I find it nicer to listen to. Perhaps, I'm just weird! And I don't know if having Apple Intelligence makes a difference or not, but I do have Apple Intelligence.

I agree, it is more natural sounding. However, it can be disconcerting: Search for “The Uncanny Valley” for a possible explanation→https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley

Lawrence Finch wrote:

lobsterghost1 wrote:

The difference I hear is Siri uses more inflection, more like a real person would. I find it nicer to listen to. Perhaps, I'm just weird! And I don't know if having Apple Intelligence makes a difference or not, but I do have Apple Intelligence.

I agree, it is more natural sounding. However, it can be disconcerting: Search for “The Uncanny Valley” for a possible explanation→https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley

Interesting article. Thanks! I don't find it disconcerting. But I am perhaps less inclined to call Siri a name now, whereas I don't have any issue expressing my displeasure with Alexa, from time to time! 😉

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Lawrence Finch wrote:

I agree, it is more natural sounding. However, it can be disconcerting: Search for “The Uncanny Valley” for a possible explanation→https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley

When I asked Siri if its voice had changed, it said, "I am currently speaking at 81%."

An interesting and somewhat unusual response!

lobsterghost1 wrote:

I agree, it is more natural sounding. However, it can be disconcerting: Search for “The Uncanny Valley” for a possible explanation→https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley

Interesting article. Thanks! I don't find it disconcerting. But I am perhaps less inclined to call Siri a name now, whereas I don't have any issue expressing my displeasure with Alexa, from time to time! 😉

😈

FaradayMan wrote:

I’m using an iPhone 15Plus and I don’t like any of the 5 voices in Siri settings under IOS 18. There doesn’t appear to be a way to go back to the Default voice which i liked much better. The new female voice sounds like an old librarian to me. I want the younger Siri back! There should be a way to go back if you don’t prefer the newer voices.

I didn't notice any change in the voice but, I've been using British male voice for years. Try some of the other voices (Britsh, SA, etc) to see if there is anything you like better.

You can also let Apple know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

The implication that there is something wrong with either librarians or older people is a bit saddening.

The voices are truly terrible. I tried every English speaking voice and they all have a common underlying tone to them that I find annoying. I submitted feedback and hope others will too. I would not have upgraded if I realized.

EandIsMom wrote:

The voices are truly terrible. I tried every English speaking voice and they all have a common underlying tone to them that I find annoying. I submitted feedback and hope others will too. I would not have upgraded if I realized.

It's amazing how people find things objectionable. I quite like how Siri sounds now. Instead of robot or computer sounding, Siri's voice is more human-conversational now and I actually find it better. Not saying you're wrong for disliking it. But I suspect most people haven't even noticed the change, nor object to it much. I can tell you I would not like it to go back to its previous non-inflective tone.

IdrisSeabright wrote:

lobsterghost1 wrote:

But I suspect most people haven't even noticed the change, nor object to it much.

If the British guy changed, I didn't notice it (and the Apple Hearing Test says my hearing is good). But, even if it did, I wouldn't find it a big deal.

I still miss the old Mac voices. I never used them much, but the samples were fun to listen to. There was a very sad one that said, "The light you see at the end of the tunnel is the headlight of an oncoming train," when you clicked on the sample.

The difference I hear is Siri uses more inflection, more like a real person would. I find it nicer to listen to. Perhaps, I'm just weird! And I don't know if having Apple Intelligence makes a difference or not, but I do have Apple Intelligence.

IdrisSeabright wrote:

lobsterghost1 wrote:

whereas I don't have any issue expressing my displeasure with Alexa, from time to time! 😉

"Alexa, shut the expletive up!" is not infrequently heard in my house.

Nope, not infrequently heard here as well!

There isn’t way to get back what you want