Backlash after top economist says male Siri voice is ‘more trustworthy'

A Nobel Prize-winning economist has faced a backlash after claiming that Apple’s digital assistant, Siri is ‘more trustworthy’ with a male voice.

Sir Christopher Pissarides made the assertion during a panel discussion at Norway’s Starmus festival – after he used his own phone on stage.

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Pissarides said, ‘I chose a man, because you trust the voice of a man more I was told.’

Pissarides later said his comment was ‘lighthearted,’ and said, ‘It’s a mistake and I’m sorry, but the audience was laughing.’

Veteran American broadcaster Larry King, who was moderating the panel, failed to criticise the remark – but audience members including SETI’s Dr Jill Tarter later criticised Pissarides.

Starmus later released a statement saying, ‘Starmus deeply regrets the sexist comments made by Chris Pissardes during a panel discussion and we accept the outrage that this has sparked.

‘Our programme consists of incredible women and men from all over the world and we have made it clear that comments of this nature will not be tolerated at our festival. Our sole mission is to communicate science to the public at large, recruiting the world’s leading scientists regardless of gender.’