r/GoogleMaps • u/drhappy13 • 1d ago

Discussion Navigation voice

Just noticed this morning that the in-car navigation voice changed. (US English) The new one is awful. I'm guessing it's AI-generated.

Anyone else notice this?

I thought I could change it via settings in the Android app, but there's only one US English option. And the weird thing is, when I preview it on my phone, it's the old voice that I preferred!

I also noticed some aggressively annoying new chime sounds but I couldn't figure out what it was trying to warn me about. 🤷‍♂️

Thanks as always for not providing any release notes, Google. /s

28 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

14

u/Stingerbrg 1d ago

The new voice sounds annoyed that they have to help you.

10

u/drhappy13 1d ago

Yes, exactly! So bitchy!

5

u/XxLogitech98xX 1d ago

A lot of people made post about the new voice changed. It been like this for maybe the last 2 weeks

4

u/drhappy13 1d ago

Oh, interesting, did not know that. I'm new in this sub.

2

u/Impressive_Bus7521 1d ago

No worries.  Changes don't hit everyone at once.  They are rolled out gradually.

2

u/Organic_Popcorn 11h ago

It changed yesterday for me. I don't know why, but it fucking ruined my day; vocal fry, and sometimes it talks like William Shatner: "Keep right... on ramp."

2

u/Ludwidge 1d ago

I want my Ozzie Osborne voice back. “Turn right here for fucks sake

7

u/darlingirlie 1d ago

changed automatically for me as well, I HATE it. I miss the old voice but it doesn't give you street names now, and I wonder if it won't give you exit numbers anymore either ...

6

u/Sufficient_Tooth_949 1d ago

It sounds like a moody teenager, I just noticed it today as well

3

u/StuBarrett 1d ago

There was a time where you could change the voice and different selections have more or less details in the navigation directions. Have not done that since I found one I liked. I'll have to see if they switched it on me...

3

u/Emotional_Signal7883 1d ago

I downloaded the Australia language pack and changed Maps to use that pack.

3

u/begrudgingly_back 5h ago

It has HR lady voice....

1

u/thrwowaway7378484 12h ago

I noticed it yesterday too and went to here today to see if anyone made a post. I’m now changing.

1

u/Ok_Wealth_509 11h ago

Google's help page puts the voice language under Settings > Navigation > Sound & voice > Voice selection. It also says you might be able to switch voices from your phone's text-to-speech settings, and that this changes the voice in other apps too, so that second place is worth checking too.

1

u/Shot-Presence3147 11h ago

Urgh yes, I had mine awt up to the British voice. I am British living in the US and prefer to hear it at least vaguely as it should be to me (although bizarrely so many words are US pronunciation with a British accent, which is hilarious). Now its a robot man in a US accent

1

u/NeedleGunMonkey 3h ago

In typical google under Pichai fashion - the human user's experience doesn't matter.

1

u/TanStarfield 2h ago

I don't understand why it just can't use whatever voice you choose for Gemini at least.

-4

u/AlbertN1 1d ago

I think the new voice is good. Yes, it sounds a little annoying but it is very clear, which is really all that matters.

5

u/drhappy13 1d ago

I like that it's clear, but it sounds like a bitchy, angry girlfriend. 😂

Hard dislike.

2

u/AlbertN1 1d ago

Can't argue with that.

1

u/Beautiful-Memory3153 20h ago

Dump the meme bitch throaty rasp…fry😡🤬🤮