Apple is investigating an unusual dictation malfunction in iOS 18 that causes the word “racist” to be replaced with “Trump” on iPhones. Users reported the glitch in both Messages and voice-to-text outputs. A former Siri developer characterized the error as an inexplicable and possibly pranked coding anomaly. Officials are monitoring.
Unsettlingly, Apple’s pronunciation processing glitch has rendered the word “Trump” as “racist,” WCCFTECH reports
According to Apple, the iOS 18 fault may have roots in phonetics or in the code itself. Apple has a history of patching iOS issues with new software updates, and this time, the problem is unique.
If you are unaware of how the problem arose, you can find the specifics below.
Apple have announced they are working to fix a dictation feature for iPhones where the word “racist” is being momentarily transcribed as “Trump.” pic.twitter.com/8d9YGsuh8V
— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 25, 2025
When using the built-in dictation feature on an iPhone, some users have noticed that the word “racist” is initially mispronounced as “Trump” before being corrected to its true pronunciation. Also, while using Apple’s dictation feature, the word “Trump” appears in the Messages app, although it is later rectified to the correct word. Take note that “Trump” isn’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when you utter the word “racist,” but it does in some contexts more often than others.
Apple has acknowledged the issue after a video demonstrating the glitch went viral on social media.
According to an Apple representative who spoke with The New York Times, the problem has surfaced since the two terms have similar phonetics. In addition, the nature of the problem with the iPhone’s integrated speech recognition software is unclear at this time.
It is also not apparent if the problem has always been there or has only recently surfaced. Whatever the situation may be, Apple has acknowledged the issue and is reportedly working on a fix; the fundamental flaw may be addressed in the next iOS 18 version.
If what ex-Sir John Burkley has heard is true, the problem may still be there because of some coding in Apple’s system that made the iPhone say “racist” instead of “Trump.” “Smells like a serious prank,” he adds, describing the disaster.
Also, he says it’s unclear whether Apple just added the code to their system or if it was always part of the data utilized for the AI functions in iOS 18.
Luis Gochoco is a seasoned managing editor and writer with over a decade of experience covering politics, technology, gaming, and entertainment news. With a keen eye for breaking stories and in-depth analysis, he has established himself as a trusted voice in digital journalism. Luis is one of the key forces behind the success of GameNGuide, contributing to 12 million views through engaging and high-traffic content. He also played a pivotal role in generating 8 million views on International Business Times, shaping the platform’s technology and gaming coverage.
