Despite being decidedly not alive, Apple's electronic assistant Siri is pro-life. Or at least that's how it seems after customers posed the voice recognition software with the tough question of where to find an abortion clinic. Siri will point toward pro-life women's clinics and health centers, but not to, say, Planned Parenthood.
The Raw Story verified Siri's refusal to turn up results for the difficult question. Executive Editor Megan Carpentier explained that a search for Washington, D.C.-based abortion clinics didn't direct her toward a local Planned Parenthood, instead listing a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Pennsylvania 93 miles away.
So, was this just an innocent programming SNAFU by Apple engineers? A pro-life conspiracy? Signs that Siri is becoming sentient? If it's the last, she certainly has a wicked sense of irony: the site added that Siri's quick to tell where customers can buy Viagra or hide a dead body in New Jersey.
The Atlantic Wire tested out several other women's health-related queries and received similarly unhelpful results. Siri was dumbfounded by questions regarding mammograms, gay marriage and Plan B emergency contraception. Turns out what Siri doesn't know could fill a book - or an expensive phone.
Norman Winarsky, a Siri co-creator, told The New York Times that he was unconvinced Apple had direct involvement with the brouhaha (Sirigate?), but couldn't rule it out either.
"My guess at what's happening here is that Apple has made deals with Web services that provide local business information, and Apple probably hasn't paid much attention to all the results that come up," said Winarsky.
One question Siri might be able to answer is: "Will Apple release an official comment?" The answer: "Not very likely." (via The Mary Sue)
