Ambiguity in AI: The Paradox of Gender Neutrality

“Ambiguity in AI: The Paradox of Gender Neutrality” is a multi-faceted art installation that investigates the complexities of gender neutrality in artificial intelligence. This multifaceted work combines a conceptual video with an interactive auditory experience to explore how AI-generated voices handle gender ambiguity. The 3-minute video component contrasts societal strides toward recognizing non-binary identities with the difficulties AI faces in achieving true gender neutrality. It includes interviews with individuals sharing their experiences with non-binary identities, the introduction of the X gender designation on US passports, and visual depictions of AI systems like Google Assistant attempting to present neutral identities. The video also critiques the default female voices used in AI assistants and introduces Q, the world's first genderless voice assistant. Concluding segments pose questions about whether our technological advances reflect our progress or reveal underlying limitations. Accompanying the video is an interactive auditory experience featuring a curated collection of 100 daily conversations. These conversations were generated by text-to-speech models and evaluated by LGBTQ individuals to identify those perceived as gender-neutral. Attendees will engage with these dialogues through headphones and audio equipment, providing feedback on their perceptions of gender neutrality. This data will be compared with the original evaluations, offering insights into how diverse demographics perceive gender-neutral AI voices and potentially guiding future developments in voice generation technology. By engaging directly with the theme of ambiguity, this artwork prompts attendees to consider whether AI can genuinely reflect societal advancements toward non-binary and gender-neutral identities. The interactive component enriches the exploration by bridging theoretical insights with practical, user-based evaluations.