Siri,Movies | Movies free | Movies latest 2022 Alexa, Cortana, by now you've probably noticed that nearly all digital assistants are portrayed as female. Even Google's more gender neutral Assistant has a female voice by default.
Interestingly, Facebook may be the tech company to buck this trend.
SEE ALSO: While you weren't looking, Facebook hit Snap where it hurts mostCNBC reported this week that Facebook's planned smart speaker, which was originally slated to launch this week at F8, will include a version of the company's M digital assistant feature. And, according to the report, we may now know what "M" is short for: Marvin.
A quick recap: M is Facebook's assistant feature that was first launched in 2015 as a kind of human and AI hybrid. The goal at the time was to use a combination of artificial intelligence and humans to create an assistant that could help you do everything from order food to buy plane tickets.
However, the feature was eventually scaled back and a more limited version was integrated into Messenger.
What's interesting about CNBC's latest report, though, is not that M could make its way to Facebook's long-rumored smart speaker, but that the company is going against the trend of giving digital assistants female names and personas.
Though most companies now allow you to change the default voice to male, the fact remains that pretty much every mainstream digital assistant has a female voice, even though many have pointed out that this plays into troubling gender stereotypes.
So it's notable, then, that Facebook may be considering a male name. (CNBC notes Marvin is still only a "potential" name.)
But the name Marvin, random though it may seem, makes sense for other reasons, too. As I've noted before, a lot of factors go into naming an assistant.
Digital assistant names need to be short and easy to say, but also unique enough that the name stands out from other speech. The name can't be toocommon either, otherwise things will get confusing pretty quick (just ask anyone named Alexa).
The hard consonant sound in the middle of Alexa makes the wake word easy to pick up, even if you mumble or speak with an accent, and "Marvin" might be similarly effective.
It's also short, relatively easy to remember, and not a particularly common name, making it even more attractive. According to U.S. census data, it ranked No. 544 on the list of most popular male baby names in 2016, the most recent year from which data is available. There's also the nostalgia element for Douglas Adams fans. Facebook naming its assistant after Marvin, the paranoid android with a brain as big as a planet from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, could earn it some nerd cred.
Again, this is all just speculation -- the final name could end up being something completely different. Facebook could even end up just sticking with the name M.
But, if it's looking at male names for a digital assistant, Marvin would certainly fit the bill.
Topics Facebook Social Media
Previous：The Pizzagate Polity
Boys to Men
Trump's coronavirus advice is literally the opposite of what he's doing
Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for March 14
Dyson's new straightener will save your hair but break your wallet
President Lisa Simpson
Michelle Yeoh's Oscar win stokes conversations on Asian identity and representation
'Self Reliance' review: Jake Johnson teams with The Lonely Island for comic mayhem
'Black Panther' costume designer Ruth E. Carter made history at the Oscars
The People’s Platform Goes to Washington
Arnold Schwarzenegger is self
Can Liberals Give Peace a Chance?
Marnie The Dog, beloved Shih Tzu, has died at 18
Inside the red zone: Photos show dramatic impact of Italy's coronavirus lockdown
Americans are hitting bars and bragging about not social distancing
Festung High School
'New Girl' is leaving Netflix. Here's where to watch it instead.
Dyson's new straightener will save your hair but break your wallet
Late night shows to go without live audiences as coronavirus spreads
Lovesick and Twitter Verified
As coronavirus spreads, it's time for serious social distancing
Google ditches continuous scroll in search results, brings back good old pagesGeorgia vs. Portugal 2024 livestream: Watch Euro 2024 for freeNASA rover films giant 1Tencent to shut down Honor of Kings: Breaking Dawn early access test · TechNode360 launches Nano Search, redefining search engines with AI integration · TechNodeDramatic images show why emperor penguins were hit with catastropheBest controller deal: Get the Amazon Luna wireless controller for $39.99NASA spacecraft flies right through sun explosion, captures footageOn its way to the moon, Russia beams back first mission imagesPolitical apathy can be a huge dating dealbreaker, research showsHere's how Google thinks AI should be regulatedChatGPT for macOS is now available for everyoneOpenAI reportedly plans to block access in China. Chinese AI companies may fill the void.Watch NASA test powerful motor for its moon megarocketAMD plans mobile chip entry with TSMC's 3nm process · TechNodeHuawei to challenge MercedesWatch NASA test powerful motor for its moon megarocket360 launches Nano Search, redefining search engines with AI integration · TechNodeNASA has landed its first asteroid rocks from spaceUkraine vs. Belgium 2024 livestream: Watch Euro 2024 for free Everyone is searching for Narendra Modi app in India Aussie NBA player Matthew Dellavedova is getting his own biopic MashReads Podcast: Here are the books we're thankful for If you receive this terrifying Google alert, you are not alone Twitter CEO's account was suspended, and everyone made the same joke Cyclists love Thanksgiving so much they ride 50 miles in the shape of a turkey Flawless Beyoncé No, Sir Elton John will not be performing at Trump's inauguration Survivors of homelessness talk about the one item they carried through it all This Thanksgiving, don't play nice—bring out your inner nasty woman instead Get out of your filter bubble with this new browser extension Sherlock Season 4 photos introduce us to Baby Watson and a new villain Telegram's blogging platform Telegraph is super simple and anonymous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be livestreamed in 360 degrees This mannequin challenge is probably the most important one yet Here's the proof that the Niffler from 'Fantastic Beasts' is actually 100% real Donald Trump is selling a $150 Christmas ornament You'll want to jump on this bouncy grass, but here's why you shouldn't OnePlus 3T review: Picking up where the Google Nexus left off Trump says that the wind is a 'very deceiving thing'
2.6207s , 8223.03125 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Movies | Movies free | Movies latest 2022】,Fresh Information Network