Apple launches new iPhone feature giving the phone the ability to mimic its owner’s voice to create conversations, the company said on Tuesday. The tool is called Personal Voice and the phone will have the ability to replicate voices after 15 minutes of practice.
Another feature called Live Speech will use the synthesised voice will read the user’s texts aloud during phone calls, FaceTime conversations, and in-person conversations. The features are scheduled to roll out later this year.
Users will also have the ability to save commonly used phrases to use them later during live conversations. Apple said that those who may have conditions where they lose their voice or the ability to speak over time, such as ALS patients, could benefit most from new features.
“Accessibility is part of everything we do at Apple,” said Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives, Sarah Herrlinger, in a post.
“These groundbreaking features were designed with feedback from members of disability communities every step of the way, to support a diverse set of users and help people connect in new ways,” she added.