The female gender assigned to so-called digital assistants in smart devices allegedly entrenches gender bias, according to a recent UNESCO study.

The female gender assigned to so-called digital assistants in smart devices allegedly entrenches gender bias, according to a recent UNESCO study. 

The study suggests that the assistants' submissive responses reinforce the idea that women are subservient. 

Online petitions in late 2017 led programmers to eliminate some of the assistants' most excessively apologetic or flirtatious responses. 

UNESCO has called for changes including exploring the feasibility of developing a neutral gender specifically for machines.