Chicago Accent Among Most Difficult For AI To Understand

CHICAGO — If you're a Chicago resident who's ever had the frustrating experience of having to ask a chatbot the same question multiple times, there may be a reason for that, according to a new survey.

The survey released by the online language-learning platform Guide2Fluency.com talked to 3,000 Americans to find out how well artificial intelligence understands a variety of accents across the country.

The Chicago accent is the 30th-most misunderstood by AI platforms, including the popular ChatGPT, according to the survey.

"Characterized by its distinctive vowel sounds and the famous 'da Bears' inflection, this accent poses a challenge for AI recognition," according to a news release about the ranking.

"When Chicagoans ask about the best 'sassage' (sausage) or directions to 'Navy Pier,' they might find their virtual assistants directing them to unexpected places. Common phrases like 'Jeetyet?' (Did you eat yet?) and 'Carmel corn' (caramel corn) often lead to amusing, if unhelpful, responses."

The Southern accent was the most misunderstood, according to the survey.

The below ranking shows the top 10 accents most misunderstood by AI:

1. Southern
2. New York City
3. New Jersey
4. Texan
5. Boston
6. Appalachian
7. Long Island
8. California Valley
9. Miami
10. New Orleans

According to the survey, these misunderstandings often have real-world implications.

"Users with these accents may find AI less reliable for everyday tasks, leading to frustration and a lack of trust in the technology," researchers said. "Improving AI’s ability to understand diverse accents is crucial for making these tools more accessible and user-friendly."

See the full ranking online.