Why did the Washington Department of Licensing's automated system speak English with a Spanish accent?

The Washington Department of Licensing cited technical issues with their new phone-tree technology as the cause for the automated English voice speaking with a Spanish accent.

What was the reaction to the Washington DOL's accent issue?

The incident went viral on social media, with many commenters comparing the accent to that of Hilaria Baldwin and finding the situation both rude and hilarious.

What is the Washington Department of Licensing doing about the accent problem?

The Department of Licensing stated they are examining how the issue occurred and how it can be fixed, planning to restart the self-service option once it is running smoothly.

Home / Technology / Washington State DOL Phone System Mysteriously Mimics Baldwin

Washington State DOL Phone System Mysteriously Mimics Baldwin

26 Feb

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Summary

Automated voice with Spanish accent answered English calls.
The accent was compared to Hilaria Baldwin's fluctuating speech.
Department of Licensing cited technical issues with new technology.

Washington State DOL Phone System Mysteriously Mimics Baldwin

A Washington caller recently shared a perplexing issue encountered with the state's Department of Licensing (DOL). When attempting to access services in Spanish by pressing 'two,' callers were met with an automated English voice that spoke with a Spanish accent, drawing comparisons to celebrity Hilaria Baldwin. This accent was noted to be present even when speaking English words.

The caller, Maya Edwards, initially posted about the incident last summer. After discovering the problem remained unresolved upon a subsequent call, she reposted the video, which subsequently gained significant traction online. Edwards expressed surprise that such an error was not caught.

Representatives for the DOL informed the press that the phone system is operating on new technology and acknowledged that the accent anomaly was due to unforeseen technical problems. They are actively investigating the issue to determine its cause and implement a solution, with plans to restart the system once smooth operation is restored.

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