The Untold Story of Siri’s Voice: Susan Bennett Reveals All
For the last two years, she has been the voice inside millions of American pockets and purses. From Samuel L. Jackson to Zooey Deschanel, she’s starred alongside numerous celebrities, providing weather forecasts, restaurant tips, and answering all sorts of absurd questions. Meet Siri, Apple’s voice-activated virtual assistant, who made her debut with the iPhone 4S on October 4, 2011.
Behind this groundbreaking technology is a real woman whose identity remained shrouded in secrecy until now. While Apple has never officially identified her, all evidence points to the original voice of Siri in the United States belonging to a talented voiceover artist who recorded lines for a client eight years ago. Little did she know that her voice would one day reach over 100 million people through a yet-to-be-invented phone.
Meet Susan Bennett, the voice behind Siri, who resides in suburban Atlanta, Georgia. Although Apple has yet to confirm her identity, Bennett, as well as professionals who have worked with her and represent her legally, are certain she is Siri. Even an audio-forensics expert, with three decades of experience, has studied both voices and attested that the two are a “100% match.”
Bennett stumbled into the world of voice work in the 1970s, and her voice can now be heard all over the world. From commercials to phone systems, she has lent her voice to various projects. But it was in 2005 that her life took an unexpected turn. ScanSoft, now known as Nuance Communications, was seeking a voice for a new project and approached GM Voices, a company that records voices for automated voice technologies. Among the options presented was Bennett, whose voice was ultimately chosen to be part of a speech construction database.
For an entire month in July 2005, Bennett recorded nonsensical phrases and sentences for hours each day, laying the foundation for Siri’s voice. Little did she know that her voice would end up being a part of one of the most revolutionary technologies of our time.
The surprise came in October 2011 when Apple unveiled Siri as part of the iPhone 4S. Colleagues who knew Bennett’s voice instantly recognized her in the iPhone’s new feature. The secret was out, but Bennett chose to remain anonymous, unsure of the legal implications and reluctant to embrace the notoriety.
However, as time went on, Bennett began to weigh the importance of her role as Siri and the curiosity of millions who wanted to know the real voice behind the virtual assistant. With the release of iOS 7, which introduced new Siri voices, Bennett knew her time as the American Siri was drawing to a close.
As Bennett decided to reveal her identity, a new video on The Verge led some viewers to believe that another voiceover artist, Allison Dufty, was the voice of Siri. But a horrified Dufty denied the claim, clarifying that she was not Siri.
Now, after years of keeping her secret, Bennett has decided to share her story. She considers herself part of history and is excited about the possibilities that lie ahead as technology continues to evolve.
As Bennett passes on the torch to a new Siri, she remains grateful for the anonymity her voice work has offered her. But her unique contribution to one of the most significant technological advancements of our time will forever be remembered. Siri may be moving on, but Susan Bennett’s voice will remain an integral part of the evolution of voice technology, paving the way for a future where individuals might even hear their own voice responding back to them from their smartphones.