New podcast: Do synthetic voices work in interactions with public authorities?
In the public engagement project Stemmeboxen (The Voice Box), Associate Professor of Media Studies at Aarhus University, Iben Have, explores how citizens experience the synthetic voices used by public authorities to read aloud content on websites such as borger.dk and the Danish Police website. A new podcast introduces listeners to some of the voices they may encounter when interacting with public services and examines the dilemmas surrounding the authorities' use of synthetic voices developed by major US technology companies.
In collaboration with the production company Videnslyd, Iben Have has produced a podcast about the ongoing research project. The project investigates how having website content read aloud influences users' understanding of both the information itself and the organisation behind it, and whether written public information is suitable for speech synthesis in the first place.
- If the voice places emphasis in odd ways, pauses at the wrong moments, uses a tone that doesn't fit the text, or simply sounds too mechanical, it can create uncertainty or frustration. These seemingly small points of friction matter in digital public services. Many citizens already feel uncertain when completing forms, interpreting regulations or navigating government websites. If the voice fails to support them and instead makes the situation more confusing, then we have a democratic problem. Unlike an audiobook, this is not something people can simply choose to put aside, says Iben Have.
Encourage critical discussion
Iben Have hopes the project will raise public awareness and encourage critical discussion about how synthetic voices influence the written content they convey. According to her, synthetic voices can have a negative impact on the communicative situation:
- Imagine being greeted by a soft, slightly coquettish female voice - the type that still dominates many digital assistants - when you are applying for hospice care for a close family member or reporting an assault to the police.
The European Commission estimates that around 20% of citizens will need text-to-speech services at some point. In June 2025, the European Accessibility Act came into force across all EU Member States. Among other things, the legislation requires digital public services to be accessible to people who are unable to read written content.
About Stemmeboxen
Stemmeboxen is a public engagement project comprising a physical installation, a podcast produced by Videnslyd, public talks and online communication.
The project is presented at Citizen Service centres in Aarhus and Struer, at Struer Museum og DOKK1, and online.
Stemmeboxen is funded by a grant of DKK 182,500 from the Carlsberg Foundation.
The project is led by Iben Have, Associate Professor, Department of Media and Journalism Studies, School of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University.
Read more about the Stemmeboxen research project.
Contact
Iben Have
Associate Professor
Department of Media and Journalism Studies
School of Communication and Culture
Aarhus University
Email: ibenhave@cc.au.dk
Phone: +45 41 44 00 47