Boston Accent Among Most Difficult For AI To Understand: Survey

BOSTON, MA — If you're a Boston native who's ever had the frustrating experience of having to ask Siri or Alexa the same question multiple times, there may be a reason for that, according to a new survey.

The survey released by the online language-learning platform Guide2Fluency.com talked to 3,000 Americans to find out how well artificial intelligence understands a variety of accents across the country.

The Boston accent is the fifth most misunderstood by AI platforms including the popular ChatGPT, according to the survey.

"Bostonians face challenges with their distinctive dropped 'r's," Guide2Fluency.com said in a news release. "Requests about parking a 'cah' (car) near the 'Gahden' (TD Garden) or checking the 'T' (subway) schedule often lead to AI misinterpretations."

The Southern accent was the most misunderstood, according to the survey, followed by New York City and New Jersey at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.

The below ranking shows the top 10 accents most misunderstood by AI:

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

According to the survey, these misunderstandings often have real-world implications.

"Users with these accents may find AI less reliable for everyday tasks, leading to frustration and a lack of trust in the technology," researchers said. "Improving AI’s ability to understand diverse accents is crucial for making these tools more accessible and user-friendly."

See the full ranking online.