It looks like being “insecure” isn’t always a bad thing. According to The Root, Insecure star Issa Rae is the latest voice to be added to Google Assistant.
“Starting today, Issa Rae’s voice is available as a cameo on the Google Assistant, in English for a limited time in the U.S.,” reads a statement the Google Assistant page. “To switch to Issa’s voice, simply say, ‘Hey Google, talk like Issa,’ or go to your ‘Assistant voice’ in Assistant Settings. You’ll then hear Issa’s voice when you ask the Assistant for things like the weather forecast or for answers to questions like, “When is the first day of winter?” You’ll also hear Issa’s voice when you’re in the mood for a joke or when you’re seeking motivation.”
The announcement was also made on the Google Instagram page, “Meet the new voice of your Google Assistant: @issarae! 🤩 She’s taking over our story today—follow along or say “Hey Google, #TalkLikeIssa” to try it for yourself.”
Rae follows in the footsteps of John Legend, whose voice was the first celebrity voice used for Google Assistant back in April of this year. Meanwhile, Samuel L. Jackson recently signed on as the first celebrity voice of Amazon’s Alexa.
“I was in talks to do this last year and was just really intrigued like, ‘What? They want my voice? Why?’” Rae told CNN. “Then, you know, I realized that I use Google Assistant frequently anyway and just thought about how cool it would be to do.”
Rae started receiving attention for the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl before creating, co-writing, and starring in the HBO television series, Insecure. She has received two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress-Television Series Musical or Comedy and a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Rae has also written a New York Times best-selling memoir, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl (37 Ink, $16.00).