Apple has acknowledged and is working to fix a strange bug in the iPhone's voice dictation feature that substitutes "Trump" for "racist". The issue, which has been circulating on social media, displays the former US President's name instead of the intended word when spoken.

The Verge was unable to reproduce the issue, but a video demonstrating the glitch went viral on TikTok and other platforms, prompting Apple to confirm the bug and promise a swift fix. According to a company spokesperson, the issue is related to phonetic overlap between the two words, with other words containing the "r" consonant also occasionally affected.

However, John Burkey, a former Siri team member at Apple, has raised suspicions that the glitch might be more than just a technical error. In an interview with The New York Times, Burkey suggested that the appearance of Trump's name could be a deliberate prank carried out by someone internally, citing the unusual nature of the substitution.

The timing of the bug's discovery is notable, coming just a day after Apple announced plans to invest over $500 billion in the United States over the next four years. The investment is seen as a move to mitigate the impact of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, including a 10% tariff on goods imported from China and a threatened 25% tariff on chips.

The incident highlights the importance of rigorous testing and quality control in AI-powered features like voice dictation. While Apple has been quick to acknowledge and address the issue, the bug's existence raises questions about the potential for similar errors or even intentional manipulation in other AI-driven systems.

As the tech industry continues to push the boundaries of AI and machine learning, incidents like this serve as a reminder of the need for transparency, accountability, and robust testing to ensure that these technologies serve the public interest.

In the meantime, Apple users can expect a fix to be rolled out soon, restoring the dictation feature to its intended function. The company's swift response to the issue is a positive step, but the incident will undoubtedly spark further debate about the role of technology in shaping our language and perceptions.