AI struggles to understand NYC, NJ and Long Island accents: survey

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – As the use of artificial intelligence and advancements in voice recognition technology continue, a new report reveals that AI struggles to understand certain accents, especially in the New York area.

New York City, New Jersey, and Long Island accents placed in the top 10, according to the report by Guide2Fluency, which surveyed 3,000 Americans.

Topping the list as the most misunderstood accent by AI is the Southern accent. The report stated that due to its unique expressions and drawl, this accent often confounds virtual assistants like Siri and ChatGPT. Words such as “y’all” and “fixin’ to” frequently lead to misinterpretations by AI systems.

New York City and New Jersey accents also rank high on the list, coming in second and third place, respectively. These accents are known for distinctive pronunciation and local slang that often trip up AI. For example, New Yorkers' tendency to drop the ‘r’ sound, as in “cah” for “car,” poses a particular challenge for voice recognition technology.

Here are the top 10 accents AI struggles with the most:

1. Southern
2. New York City
3. New Jersey
4. Texan
5. Boston
6. Appalachian
7. Long Island
8. California Valley
9. Miami
10. New Orleans

The full report can be found here .