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06th Jun 2023

iPhones will stop autocorrecting ‘f**k’ to ‘duck’, Apple announces

Charlie Herbert

Ducking finally!

Apple has revealed it is going to upgrade the autocorrect on iPhones so that it stops autocorrecting a certain swear word to ‘duck’ or ‘ducking.’

As useful as it is, autocorrect can at times be annoying, whether your typing someone’s uncommon name that it simply doesn’t recognise or an unusual place name.

There’s one word it refuses to accept though: f**k.

One of humanity’s favourite swear words (if not favourite words full stop) is consistently altered to ‘duck’ and ‘ducking.’

Ducking hell. For duck’s sake. Duck off. These are all common phrases in group chats across the land.

Well, those times may be over.

Apple has revealed it is changing the technology autocorrect uses so that it accepts swear words and expletives.

“In those moments where you just want to type a ducking word, well, the keyboard will learn it, too,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief at the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino on Monday.

TechCrunch reports that the next iOS update will feature an upgraded autocorrect powered by AI.

This will learn to predict words or phrases that are consistently used by the iPhone user, including swear words.

According to CNET, this useful feature will be part of iOS 17, which is expected to be available as a public beta in July before being released to the general public in September.

The upgraded autocorrect will also pick up on slang terms.

Of course, this wasn’t the headline announcement from Apple’s conference.

They also showed off their brand new $3,500 augmented reality headset at the event.

‘Vision Pro’ has a full 3D interface and can be controlled with your hands, eyes and voice.

CEO Tim Cook described the ski goggles-esque device as “the first Apple product you look through, and not at.”

It allows you to see the world around you, but with all your apps placed superimposed over your surroundings.

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