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“Cheating” with Clients? Why Speech Input Needs a Second Look 

At Access Advisors, we pride ourselves on being caring, connected, capable and business savvy. But even the most capable among us can fall victim to the quirks of technology. 

Recently, one of our team members (the one recovering from the broken wrist) used speech input to send a client email. The message was meant to say, “I look forward to chatting with you.” Instead, it said, “I look forward to cheating with you.” 

Meme with the words "Me: Alexa, remind me to go to the gym - Alexa: I have added gin to your shopping list - Me: Close enough"

Cue the horror. And then the laughter

This moment, while mortifying, is a perfect example of why digital accessibility isn’t just about screen readers and colour contrast. It’s about designing for real people, in real situations, using real tools. And sometimes, those tools get it hilariously wrong. 

Speech Input: A Powerful Ally with a Sense of Humour 

Dictation tools are no longer niche. In Aotearoa, they’re built into everyday devices and systems. Siri, Google Assistant, Microsoft 365, Otter.ai, Zoom, and more are using AI. From schools and universities to government agencies and healthcare providers, speech input is helping people communicate, work, and learn. 

But it’s not perfect. Common pitfalls include: 

  • Misheard words: Homophones and Kiwi accents can confuse software. “Chatting” becomes “cheating.” 
  • Lack of feedback: Some tools don’t show real-time transcription, making errors hard to catch. 
  • Hard-to-fix mistakes: If correcting errors takes too many steps, users may skip it. 
  • Over-reliance on automation: Autocorrect can change the right word into the wrong one. 
  • Context ignorance: Tools don’t understand tone or audience, “sweet as” might end up in a formal report. 

Real-World Consequences 

A silly mistake in a text is one thing. In professional settings, it can damage relationships or reputations. In healthcare, it could be dangerous. In education, it could affect grades. In government services, it could delay support. 

Here in Aotearoa, where te reo Māori and our unique accent are part of everyday life, dictation tools need to work harder to get it right. 

Designing with Care and Capability 

At Access Advisors, we help organisations build digital products and services that work for everyone. Our services include: 

  • Accessibility Training 
  • Accessibility Reviews 
  • User Research 
  • Strategy Development 
  • Consultancy 

So for speech input, we recommend: 

  • Visible transcription: Show words as they’re spoken 
  • Easy editing: Simple voice commands like “delete last word” 
  • Confirmation prompts: Always review before sending 
  • Context-aware checks: Flag awkward phrases 
  • User education: Teach users how to get the best results 
  • Inclusive testing: Include Kiwi accents and te reo Māori in testing 

A Connected Approach 

Mistakes will happen, but with good design they can be reduced. Our approach is grounded in care, capability, and connection. Care protects people from harm. Capability gives users tools that work. Connection strengthens communication. Business savvy means we take this stuff seriously. 

Get in touch and we can laugh about the horror...

And to the client who received that now infamous email, we truly are looking forward to chatting with you.