• Apple is fixing a dictation feature bug that suggests 'Trump' when words beginning with 'R' are spoken.
• The issue was highlighted on social media where users shared videos demonstrating the glitch.
• Apple confirmed awareness of the problem and is rolling out a fix.
• Other terms starting with 'R' are also impacted by this glitch.
• The company has plans to invest $500 billion and hire 20,000 employees in the U.S.

In a move to address a recent controversy, Apple is set to rectify a glitch found in the dictation feature of some iPhones, which mistakenly suggests the name “Trump” when users say certain words that start with the letter 'R', such as "racist." This unexpected behavior was brought to light after numerous iPhone users shared videos on social media demonstrating how the issue unfolds. In these instances, when the dictation feature was activated, the word "Trump" would appear in text boxes momentarily before being replaced by the intended word.

In response to the outcry, an Apple spokesperson stated, “We are aware of an issue with the speech recognition model that powers Dictation and we are rolling out a fix today,” as reported by the LA Times. The company explained that the glitch originated due to “phonetic overlap” in the speech recognition models. Other words containing the letter 'R' have also been found to trigger this unintended suggestion, though the Associated Press was unable to replicate the bug upon investigation.

Additionally, this week, Apple announced a significant investment plan that includes a commitment of over $500 billion and hiring 20,000 new employees in the United States over the next four years, alongside plans for a new factory in Texas. This announcement comes amid tensions involving the former President Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports. Separately, shareholders have also resisted pressures for Apple to support Trump's attempts to dismantle corporate diversity initiatives.

For more information, visit the Channel News Asia and SCMP.