AI and Accessibility: We Got a Lot to Talk About

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In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands out as a game-changer our industry. But what are the implications for accessibility and building compliant and inclusive experiences?

In this talk, we will discuss AI and accessibility in all its nuances. From significant advancements that improve experiences for all users to major concerns around the ethics and organizational investments in accessibility, we will cover it all. Either way, AI is here and we got a lot to talk about to ensure accessibility remains at the forefront of our work.

This talk has been presented at React Summit US 2024, check out the latest edition of this React Conference.

FAQ

AI is defined as a simulation of human intelligence by a machine. It ranges from simple chatbots to more complex systems like those in sci-fi movies. The presentation focuses on narrow AI, which performs specific tasks.

The presentation discusses three main types of AI: Narrow AI, General AI, and Super Intelligent AI, with a focus on Narrow AI, which is designed for specific tasks.

AI is used to improve accessibility by enhancing writing tools like Chat GPT for people with disabilities, improving text-to-speech applications, voice recognition, captioning, and translation tools, and aiding visually impaired users with image recognition technologies.

AI does not replace human experts and can perpetuate societal biases. It may also produce inaccurate results and users might trust these results too much. AI is a tool that should be used strategically and with caution.

Engineers can improve web accessibility by cleaning up HTML, using accessibility browser tools, and integrating automated testing into the development pipeline to catch accessibility issues before production.

AI helps in creating accessible educational content by improving interaction tools and generating accessible code suggestions. However, it is not a complete solution and requires collaboration with accessibility experts.

Hiring accessibility experts ensures that websites and applications are built with compliance and accessibility in mind, providing the best experience for all users, including those with disabilities.

Recommended tools for improving web accessibility include the Axe Core Browser Extension, Accessibility Insights for the Web, Lighthouse, Selenium from Deque, and Plywright accessibility extensions.

'Be My Eyes' is an AI application that helps visually impaired users by describing their surroundings using AI models, thus helping them navigate the world more independently.

Narrow AI is significant because it represents the majority of AI applications currently in use, performing specific tasks like self-driving cars and face recognition, which are crucial for accessibility advancements.

Cat Johnson
Cat Johnson
29 min
19 Nov, 2024

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Video Summary and Transcription
Let's start diving into the presentation on AI and accessibility. AI is a simulation of human intelligence by machines, and this presentation will focus on narrow AI. Generative AI has achieved great things in accessibility, and AI advancements have improved various applications for people with disabilities. OpenAI's newest model allows blind people to access AI through Be My Eyes. Challenges with AI include bias and accuracy. AI can be a useful tool in improving accessibility, but it has limitations and risks. Advocating for AI ethics and accessibility, collecting data, and addressing specific accessibility concerns are important. Khan Academy is working on improving accessibility in education.
Video transcription and chapters available for users with access.

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