 "iPhone dictation bug allegedly replaces 'racist' with 'Trump', Apple says fix on the way")
Apple is scrambling to fix an unusual bug in its iPhone dictation feature after users noticed that saying the word “racist” briefly caused “Trump” to appear before autocorrecting itself. The issue gained traction on TikTok and other social media platforms, leading to backlash from conservatives who accused Apple of political bias.
The company has acknowledged the problem, explaining that it stems from a glitch in the speech recognition model used for dictation. Apple assured users that a fix is already in the works and will be rolled out soon.
A speech recognition slip-up
According to Apple, the issue occurs because of phonetic overlaps in its speech recognition model. When dictation is processing spoken words, it may briefly display words that share similar sounds before settling on the correct one. In this case, the glitch resulted in “Trump” flashing on the screen when users said “racist.”
Further tests suggest the problem isn’t limited to this one-word pairing. Other words with an “r” consonant—such as “ramp,” “rhubarb,” “rhythmic,” and “ruffles”—have also been known to trigger “Trump” before correcting themselves. Apple says the system refines its transcription after a moment of further analysis, but the brief misstep was enough to spark controversy online.
Backlash and scrutiny on big tech
The issue quickly became a talking point among conservatives, with many accusing Apple of injecting politics into its software. With Big Tech companies already under heavy scrutiny for alleged bias in AI and content moderation, the glitch added fuel to the fire.
While Apple insists this is purely a technical error and not a deliberate act, it highlights the broader challenges of AI-driven speech recognition. As tech companies increasingly rely on AI to enhance user experience, these types of hiccups—whether humorous or politically charged—can create unexpected backlash.
Apple’s fix is on the way
Apple has assured users that a fix is being rolled out immediately. In a statement, the company explained that dictation’s speech recognition model occasionally misinterprets phonetics in its initial analysis, but further processing corrects the transcription.
The company did not specify whether the update would require a software patch or if adjustments would be made on Apple’s backend servers. Either way, iPhone users should soon see the issue resolved—hopefully without any more political mix-ups.
As AI-powered features become a bigger part of smartphone experiences, this glitch serves as a reminder that even the most advanced tech can sometimes stumble over simple words.
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