Apple Scrambles to Fix Bizarre Dictation Bug That Swaps “Racist” for “Trump”
Apple is rushing to fix a strange glitch in its voice-to-text feature after users reported that saying the word “racist” on their iPhones sometimes resulted in it being transcribed as “Trump.” The bug, which briefly appeared before correcting itself, was widely shared on social media, sparking controversy and fueling speculation about Apple’s AI technology.
The issue gained attention after a viral TikTok video demonstrated the phenomenon, with many users able to replicate it. An Apple spokesperson attributed the problem to “phonetic overlap” in its speech recognition model, saying, “We are aware of an issue with the speech recognition model that powers Dictation and we are rolling out a fix today.”
However, experts in speech technology have cast doubt on Apple’s explanation. Peter Bell, a professor at the University of Edinburgh, said the idea that phonetic similarities caused the glitch was “just not plausible,” arguing that Apple’s AI should be advanced enough to distinguish between the two words. A former Apple engineer who worked on Siri suggested it may have been an intentional alteration rather than a simple mistake, calling it a “serious prank.”
The glitch appeared just one day after Apple announced a massive $500 billion investment in the U.S. over the next four years, including a major AI infrastructure project in Texas. Some critics have linked the timing of the bug to Apple’s ongoing efforts to maintain a good relationship with the Trump administration. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed to Apple’s investment as proof of President Trump’s success in boosting business.
The bug also surfaced on the same day that Apple shareholders rejected a proposal to roll back the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that the company “may need to make some changes” to comply with shifting legal requirements but reaffirmed Apple’s commitment to DEI.
Apple has a complicated relationship with Trump. Cook has met with him multiple times, including at his inauguration, and even donated $1 million to his swearing-in. The company is particularly vulnerable to U.S.-China trade tensions and may see an opportunity in aligning with Trump’s stance against EU tech regulators.
This isn’t the first time Apple’s AI has caused controversy. Last month, the company had to disable its AI-generated news summaries after they produced false and misleading headlines. A similar incident in 2018 saw Siri display a nude image when asked about Trump, which was later traced to Wikipedia tampering.
While Apple insists the Dictation glitch was a technical error, many remain skeptical. With the fix already rolling out, it may soon be a thing of the past—but the controversy over Apple’s AI capabilities and its political entanglements is far from over.
