The next time you need to take the next exit at a roundabout, you might notice something different: Google Maps’ iconic voice has changed in route directions.

Voice actress Nikki García, who has accompanied us on all our Google Maps trips for years, announced on X that she will be stepping down as the voice of Google Maps, effective immediately. On your next route A new voice awaits you, something more serious.

Taking the next exit at the roundabout will never be the same

Google has radically changed the voice of Google Maps this time. No longer the synthesized voice of Nikki Garcíabut it’s a completely different voice that we don’t know at this time whether it was synthesized from another voice actor or created by AI.

Nikki García’s voice has accompanied us on Google Maps for years; very enthusiastic tone for several yearsUntil an update in 2020 made it more natural. This has remained the case to this day.

Now classic Google Maps audio changes Indicators for which exit to take from a roundabout or whether to head west will sound completely different and somewhat robotic. The new voice is a bit generic and doesn’t sound very natural on some indicators.

The new voice is no longer that of Nikki García, whom we can still hear in one of her other dubbed works, Renfe Cercanías, or in her first Spanish single, available on Spotify.

Cover image | Generated by AI

via | Free Android

Xataka on Android | How to change the voice of Google Assistant: so you can choose between female and male