I opened Copilot today and noticed something… off. Gone are the days of trusty Steve or reliable James guiding me through traffic snarls with unmistakably male voices. Now, if I want directions, I have to choose from an array of male/female voices named Canyon, Birch, Grove.
What am I—hiking through Middle Earth?
I mean, when did voices become landscaping materials? I don’t know if Birch is going to help me navigate traffic or offer to install hardwood floors. And don’t even get me started on Canyon. Canyon sounds like someone who wears flowing robes and reads your horoscope.
It makes me wonder—are we heading toward a world where people name their kids Maple Leaf and Broomstick just to avoid gender stereotypes? “Hi, I’m Broomstick’s dad. Broomstick and Squeegie can’t play today. They’re trying on new names and gender roles.”
Listen, I’m all for inclusivity, but I just want to know which gender Meadow is — and who’s yelling at me when I miss my exit. Is that too much to ask?
Bring back Steve. Steve didn’t judge. Steve knew how to pronounce “Gnangara Road.” Steve never sounded like a haunted wind chime.
Sheesh!
–Michael (Dark fiction. Author of SEETHINGS (the first book), free for a limited time)
Discover more from Michael Forman – Author of Dark Fiction & Drama
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