Can AI Help People With Disabilities?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more prevalent in society. While some people may find AI scary, it can help people with disabilities make their lives easier.
“The good thing about AI is that it can really bring out the best of (us) if we have the right data set,” said Erya Abraham, CEO and founder of tech company Lisnen, which uses technology to aid the deaf and hard of hearing.
Lisnen is a software that automates listening by sending notifications of sounds such as fire alarms and door knocks to a smart device.
Uinclude is an AI tool that helps identify bias in job descriptions that might stop somebody with a disability from applying and replaces discriminatory language with inclusive language.
Cognixion is another AI tool that helps people with limited mobility and speaking capability have conversations using a headset. “Using brain waves and understanding the brain function (and giving) somebody the power and tool to be able to communicate, I think, is really remarkable,” said Abraham.
ChatGPT, an AI chat bot that has recently gone viral, may help people expand on short sentences, draft responses to emails, refine the tone of a piece of writing, or get advice on conversation starters.
Bronwyn Hemsley, head of speech pathology at the University of Technology in Sydney, sees the potential of AI technology in aiding people with disabilities. However, she also warns about the dangers of AI technology spreading misinformation and eroding social trust.