“It’s not a representation of me”: Examining Accent Bias and Digital Exclusion in Synthetic AI Voice Services
Presented by Dr. Avijit Ghosh
Dr. Avijit Ghosh works at the intersection of machine learning, ethics, and policy. His research has led to impactful changes, such as shaping regulation in New York City and prompting Facebook to remove its biased ad-targeting algorithm. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, the MIT Tech Review, and more.
Abstract
AI speech generation and voice cloning technologies produce natural speech but may reinforce accent discrimination. A study of two synthetic AI voice services (Speechify and ElevenLabs) highlights performance gaps across regional English accents, underscoring the need for inclusive design to avoid excluding diverse linguistic traits. These findings call for actionable steps from developers, policymakers, and organizations to create fairer, socially responsible AI solutions.