In a surprising revelation, Susan Bennett emerges as the original voice of Siri, Apple’s beloved voice assistant. Bennett’s journey from a voiceover artist to the voice heard by millions worldwide is as intriguing as it is unexpected.
Voice of Siri
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Susan Bennett, a resident of suburban Atlanta, shared her remarkable story. “I never imagined that my voice would one day be speaking to millions through an innovative phone,” Bennett revealed.
This revelation dates back to 2005 when she was approached by ScanSoft, later acquired by Nuance Communications, to lend her voice to a project involving nonsensical phrases and word combinations. Little did Bennett know that these recordings would become the foundation for Siri’s voice.
The realization of Bennett’s involvement came in 2011 when a colleague drew her attention to the uncanny resemblance between her voice and the newly launched Siri. “I received an email from a fellow voice actor, asking if I was aware that my voice was being used on the new iPhone,” Bennett recalled.
Intrigued, she visited Apple‘s website to investigate further and confirmed that indeed, the voice was hers. Despite her pivotal role, Apple has never officially acknowledged Bennett’s contribution.
Reflecting on her journey, Bennett shared her initial disbelief at the revelation. “I had no idea what they were talking about,” she admitted. “But when I listened to Siri, I knew immediately that it was my voice.”
For years, Bennett’s involvement remained shrouded in secrecy, until now. Free from nondisclosure agreements, Bennett seized the opportunity to share her story with the world.
Despite the lack of financial compensation from Apple, Bennett’s journey has led to newfound opportunities. Embracing her role as the original voice of Siri, she has ventured into public speaking engagements and media appearances. “It’s been a surreal experience,” Bennett remarked. “But it’s opened doors to avenues I never imagined.”
She told Business Insider: “It’s really been fun ‘being’ Siri. It’s really given me a lot of really wonderful opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise, so no complaints here.”(via dailystar)
Apple has stopped using Bennett’s voice in 2013
Susan Bennett’s journey from anonymous voiceover artist to the iconic voice of Siri exemplifies the unpredictable nature of fame in the digital age. As technology continues to evolve, her story serves as a reminder of the individuals whose contributions shape our everyday interactions with digital assistants. While Siri’s voice may have evolved, Bennett’s legacy as the original voice remains etched in the annals of technological history.
