US EditionCallers to Washington state hotline press 2 for Spanish and get accented AI English instead
The Washington State Department of Licensing's AI system mispronounces Spanish, affecting callers using the Spanish-language option among 10 languages in the self-service line.
- Earlier this month, callers to the Washington State Department of Licensing heard an AI voice speaking English with a strong Spanish accent on the Spanish-language phone option, a problem Washington resident Maya Edwards first noticed last summer when her Mexican husband used it.
- The agency's multilingual upgrade, which includes 10 languages, runs on a newer AI-driven system and DOL is investigating the malfunction while referring vendor questions to WaTech.
- An Associated Press test found that the Spanish prompt produced an accented English voice sometimes saying numbers like `tres`, and callers who press `two` for Spanish often do so after long English waits.
- The Department of Licensing apologized and said it is trying to fix the Spanish option amid concerns it creates accessibility issues for non-English callers, after a TikTok video drew around 2 million views.
- Edwards compared the call to Parks and Recreation and said it was "hilarious" in the moment, reflecting a mix of humor and concern Thursday.
34 Articles
34 Articles
Hotline AI offers accent, not Spanish
SEATTLE — Press 2 for Spanish … accent?
Washington state couple seeks licensing help in Spanish. They get a recorded message in accented English instead
Maya Edwards, who resides in Kitsap County, posted a video on TikTok last week that has since received more than 1.8 million views and 284,000 likes. The video shows the couple calling the department’s Spanish self-service menu, shocked over what they heard.
Press “two” for... Spanish accent? For months, those calling the Washington State License Department to request an automated service in Spanish, listened to an IA voice speaking in English with a strong Spanish accent. The agency has apologized and claims to be trying to solve the problem. Washington resident Maya Edwards found out about the voice with an IA accent last summer after her Mexican husband tried to use the option in Spanish while se…
Callers to Washington hotline 'press 2' for Spanish and get accented AI English instead
The Washington Department of Licensing has apologized for an AI voice speaking English in a strong Spanish accent when callers requested automated service in Spanish, and is trying to fix the problem.
Los Angeles Times
Independent EspañolClick “2” to hear the options in ¿Acento español?
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