A new study has shown that AI can convincingly mimic regional dialects such as Dundonian Scots

Doctor Neil Kirk has been leading the study (Picture: Abertay University)

Researchers at Abertay University have warned that scammers could soon use AI-generated voices speaking in local dialects like Dundonian to trick people.

The study, led by Dr Neil Kirk, found that fake voices created with AI are now so convincing that many people struggle to tell them apart from real ones — especially when the voice sounds like it’s from their own area.

“AI voices are becoming harder to spot, and that’s worrying,” said Dr Kirk.

“If someone hears a voice that sounds Dundonian, they’re more likely to trust it — even if it’s fake. That could be used in scams or phishing calls.”

The research, published in Computers in Human Behaviour: Artificial Humans, tested phrases in both Scottish Standard English and Dundonian, such as “The doag had fev puppies.” Listeners in Scotland and southern England were asked to spot which voices were real and which were AI. Most couldn’t tell the difference.

Scots were slightly better at identifying the real voices, with a 57% success rate, compared to 52% for English listeners. But even then, many AI-generated Dundonian voices were still convincing enough to fool locals.

“People in Scotland aren’t used to tech sounding like them,” said Dr Kirk. “So when it does — especially in a strong local dialect like Dundonian — it feels real, even when it isn’t.”

Dr Kirk believes more public awareness is needed to help people stay alert. He suggests warning messages from banks and public campaigns could help reduce the risk of people being tricked.

The research also highlights the importance of protecting and understanding Scots dialects like Dundonian, which are often overlooked by technology.

Dr Kirk continues to explore these dialects through his platform MIND Your Languages, which focuses on minority and non-standard ways of speaking.