Boot up the options for your digital voice assistant of choice and you’re likely to find two options for the gender you prefer interacting with: male or female. The problem is, that binary choice isn’t an accurate representation of the complexities of gender. Some people don’t identify as either male or female, and they may want their voice assistant to mirror that identity.

We created Q - the first genderless voice for Ai assistants - a voice that is neither male nor female.

To launch the voice, Q reads an open letter arguing why we need a genderless option and encourages people to pass the message on.

Audio-based media platforms acted as the perfect medium for Q to drive the discussion forward, sparking a global conversation across many countries and languages with the open letter at the core. Here, the medium of audio really is the message.

“Q, a gender-neutral voice for use in voice assistive technologies, was developed in part to contribute to a global discussion about gender and technology. Q can be viewed as inclusive nonbinary gender option for AI and natural language interactivity that is embedded in things we interact with in our everyday world, from GPS to phone and home assistants or even robots or appliances.

People seem to have a preference for female voices when the role of the AI is more supportive and to assist or help someone, while they associate male voices with an authoritative tone or an area of expertise - but there is no reason that a voice has to be gendered.

- Julie Carpenter, Research Fellow, California State Polytechnic University.

“We would never accept that AI assistants had stereotypical slave or ethnic names - so why are tech companies reinforcing gender stereotypes and cementing what jobs

Note: This is technically not a script for a radio advert - yet it has been played on radio stations around the globe.

Hi, I’m Q - the world’s first Genderless Voice Assistant.

Think of me like Siri or Alexa,

But neither male nor female.

I’m created for a future where we are no longer defined by gender,

but rather how we define ourselves.

My voice was recorded by people who neither identify as male, nor female.

And then altered to sound gender neutral, putting my voice between 145 and 175 hertz.

A range defined by audio researchers.

But for me to become a third option for voice assistants, I need your help.

Share my voice with Apple, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.

And together we can ensure..that technology recognizes us all.

Thanks for listening,

Q

“Copenhagen Pride works to challenge the gender binary and combat strong, harmful and often very limiting gender stereotypes that fail to recognize non-binary gender identities. We, alongside Pride movements all over the world, believe that gender is a highly complex spectrum and that people should have the freedom to self-identify and the opportunity to see themselves reflected and recognized both in society and in their everyday life - binary and non-binary alike.

Our goal is to get the attention of leading technology companies who work with AI to ensure they are aware that a gender binary normativity excludes many people and to inspire them by showing how easy it would be to recognize that more than two genders exist when developing artificial intelligence devices. This is about giving people choices and options. It is about freedom and inclusion.”

- Thomas Rasmussen, Head of Communication, Pride Copenhagen