In a world where approximately 1.3 billion individuals face significant disabilities, the need for inclusivity is undoubtedly important.
Disabilities transcend physical or cognitive conditions; they encompass any situation where someone is excluded from an activity or experience. Inclusion is not a fixed concept but one that adapts to context. This article delves into the evolving landscape of inclusive design, driven by the force of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
A turning point for technology: AI and inclusive design
Recent advances in AI technology are opening exciting avenues for designers and engineers to address inclusivity. Notably, Apple’s ‘The Greatest’ advert, showcasing the iPhone’s accessibility features, has garnered millions of views, signifying a turning point where inclusivity takes centre stage.
Voice recognition: Amplifying accessibility
Voice recognition technology not only understands human speech but also factors in elements like pitch, tone, and expressiveness. It’s a game-changer for those with dexterity disabilities. Voice assistants such as Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa empower users to interact with digital devices using only speech, fostering hands-free accessibility. Moreover, real-time closed captions, powered by voice recognition algorithms, enhance the experience for users across the spectrum, from those with hearing impairments, to those seeking a more immersive multimedia experience.
Computer vision: Guiding the visually impaired
Computer vision, a technology that processes visual data from images and videos, has become indispensable for visually impaired individuals. Apps like Seeing AI harness this technology to provide high-fidelity descriptions of objects, read signs, identify banknotes, and even interpret people’s visual emotions. This helps the visually impaired to live a similarly rich experience as their sighted peers.
Translation: Bridging language barriers
Language can be a real barrier to inclusion, although AI language models like Meta’s No Language Left Behind (NLLB) are providing support for users who need it. NLLB can accurately translate 200 languages while retaining idioms, dialects, and cultural nuances. Beyond promoting understanding and communication, this empowers linguistically excluded communities, such as migrants or foreign workforce, to participate in education, business, and job opportunities.
Summarisation: Managing cognitive load
Text summarisation is one AI capability that condenses extensive text into concise paragraphs. This is a benefit for individuals with cognitive disabilities such as ADHD, who might struggle with attention and memory. AI-driven summarisation also helps to manage cognitive load, making complex information more digestible. It’s a powerful tool to enhance inclusivity and facilitate learning for a broader audience.
The dark side of inclusive AI
Despite these clear advantages, it’s important to discuss inclusive AI while acknowledging its negative or challenging qualities. The ubiquity of AI has amplified the impact of bias in AI models. Generative AI images, for instance, can perpetuate stereotypes, reinforcing inequalities. AI facial recognition systems may falter in identifying diverse races due to limited training data, further exacerbating exclusion.
A call to action: Building inclusive AI
To mitigate these issues, designers must embrace more substantial, diverse datasets and foster inclusive AI teams. A varied workforce is better poised to detect and challenge biases, yielding more inclusive products. Keeping the end user at the forefront of AI development is paramount in identifying and rectifying biased AI.
The potential of AI to foster inclusivity is profound. It has the power to dismantle barriers and level the playing field for individuals with diverse needs. However, we must tread this path with caution, acknowledging the ethical considerations and challenges that come with AI’s development and deployment.
At KD, we are uniquely positioned to help clients navigate this transformative space. With our proficient digital design and software engineering teams, we continually explore the best ways to harness AI for our clients. Inclusivity is also a non-negotiable for us. We champion user needs at the core of our design processes, reflecting our diverse team and unwavering commitment to addressing exclusion. In the quest for inclusive AI, there is still progress to be made, yet it has the potential to provide a more equitable and accessible future for all.
Keen to find out more about the evolution of AI and what this may mean for your business ? Contact our Head of Digital, Tim Banks.
Image 1: https://uxdesign.cc/the-rise-of-digital-accessibility-building-the-business-case-b990a4fda213
Image 2: https://youtu.be/8sX9IEHWRJ8?si=uDQZ9oypfDEGyEhv
Image 3: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/accessibility-closed-captions-transcriptions
Image 4: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/seeing-ai
Image 5: https://ai.meta.com/research/no-language-left-behind/
Image 7: https://www.wired.com/story/ai-algorithms-are-biased-against-skin-with-yellow-hues/
Explore more
