But your accent could be hindering your job prospects, according to a new study. For the study, the team analysed more than 5,000 high–profile public TED Talks delivered in English across a range of topics. To investigate the relationship between accent and online engagement, the researchers analysed 5,367 TED Talks using voice recognition, natural language processing, and vision models. The results revealed a 'sizeable disparity in public discourse' – with speakers with foreign accents receiving less engagement than those with native accents. 'When left unexamined, accent bias may quietly shape whose ideas or contributions are amplified, with downstream consequences for decision quality and organizational learning,' the explained.

Source: Daily Mail March 18, 2026 15:47 UTC