Editing Introduction of Voice Assistants (section)

=== Gender bias ===
Voice assistants represent the fundamental departure from earlier technologies relying on sterile, keyword-driven commands typed on a keyboard; instead they harness the power of speech, deemed as the most natural form of human communication.<ref name=":0">Phan, T. (2017). The Materiality of the Digital and the Gendered Voice of Siri. ''Transformations'', ''29'', 23–33.</ref> However, an aspect of this transition that has drawn significant criticism from researchers in fields of social studies is the adoption of nurturing, female voices for voice assistants, with a profound impact on how users engage with and perceive them.

The use of female voices has contributed to asistants being seen as friendlier and more familiar to users, making interactions more engaging thanks to the perceived warmth, approachability and their coded 'readiness to help'.<ref>Fisher, E. (2021). ''Gender Bias in AI: Why Voice Assistants are Female''. Adapt. <nowiki>https://www.adaptworldwide.com/insights/2021/gender-bias-in-ai-why-voice-assistants-are-female</nowiki></ref> While some voice assistants do indeed offer male voice alternatives, it's important to note that the default and most well known voice for all leading voice assistants remains female. Such design choices are sparking discussions about reinforcing and perpetuating gender stereotypes and biases, raising questions about the roles assigned to technology and how these choices can further shape societal perceptions.<ref name=":0" /><ref>West, M., Kraut, R., & Ei Chew, H. (2019). I'd blush if I could: closing gender divides in digital skills through education.</ref>