ScotRail has introduced a new AI onboard announcer using the voice of employee Vannessa Sloan after concerns arose over the previous AI voice.
Ms Sloan, part of ScotRail’s customer information team, is already familiar to passengers. She recorded hundreds of words, phrases, and station names—including some challenging Scottish pronunciations—across 18 studio sessions.
Phil Campbell, ScotRail’s customer operations director, described the system as “modern, reliable, and ethically produced,” highlighting that using an internal team member’s voice reflects the company’s values.
Experts point out that copyright protects literary and artistic works, but not a person’s voice or likeness.
The former AI voice, Iona, is still available for commercial use, along with a male counterpart, Aidan, via ReadSpeaker
