How do Siri and Alexa sound so human? A computer engineer explains

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. How is a text-to-speech voice made? – Sarah G٫ age 11٫ Seguin٫ Texas When you talk to computerized assistants like Siri or Alexa, they reply in voices that sound very human. But how do computers, smartphones and apps actually talk like a person? They use a technology called text-to-speech. When you speak, your lungs push air up your windpipe and…