Can AI help close the accessibility gap?

I am fascinated by the rapid pace of change in the technology sector. But I think we should always question if Artificial Intelligence (AI) is really serving us. Is it improving the quality of life for humans? Is it closing the gaps in accessibility and supporting diverse groups? Accessibility Awareness Day is a great opportunity to reflect on this.

The Democratisation of Technology

Sure, AI boasts super impressive capabilities, but it is the interplay between technology and human insight that opens up possibilities. At Samsung, we are dedicated to harnessing AI to make our products and services more inclusive.

Our mission: To democratise AI and revolutionise how we connect with each other and the world.

Our AI advancements, from hands-free gestures for digital appliances to auto-generated captions during calls and AI-enabled text-to-speech for displays hold the potential to bring about root and stem change. And these innovations are far from gimmicks.

It is my belief they will soon be essential tools for empowering communities and individuals.

Before my life as CMO for Samsung Electronics Europe, I spent 10 years as a Special Police Constable for the Metropolitan Police London. I have seen firsthand the importance of accessibility in emergency situations. Without a doubt, AI-driven features can assist emergency responders make important decisions, during high pressure situations. This can translate to real world impact that everybody can benefit from.

We recently launched our first AI smartphone, the Samsung Mobile Galaxy S24 Series. While certainly pushing boundaries of what it means to have the power of AI literally at your fingertips, our latest models are also about making this tech more accessible. Ensuring AI serves as a tool for empowerment, not exclusion. This motivated us to go that step further and enable users to experience Galaxy AI on previous models such as the S23, with plans to extend this to even earlier predecessors.

One Leap at a Time

Consider this: Over one billion people globally live with some form of disability – that is about 1 in 6 of us according to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates. Yet the digital landscape remains largely inaccessible to so many people. Leveraging AI, we can bridge this gap by providing tailored support and breaking down language barriers.

AI's ability to learn and adapt to users' needs is particularly crucial in accessibility.

Imagine a scenario where we have a smartphone equipped with AI algorithms tailored to assist individuals with visual impairments. Initially, the device might rely on simple voice commands to navigate menus and access information. As the user interacts with the device, providing feedback along the way, the AI begins to pick up on their unique patterns and preferences. It learns to anticipate their needs more accurately, almost like a personal assistant that gets better with time. The device recognises specific speech nuances or gestures unique to that user, streamlining the entire experience. This adaptive capability allows the device to evolve in sync with the user's changing needs, making accessibility a seamless part of their everyday life.

Looking ahead, the future of AI in accessibility holds real promise. From natural language processing and image recognition, we are exploring innovative technologies to further enhance accessibility. More broadly, AI is currently being integrated into assistive devices such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, prosthetic limbs, smart glasses and speech generation tools to name a few. The list of opportunities is long: Making websites and digital content accessible, enhancing mobility and transportation, as well as customs learning and employment opportunities.

Safely, Securely

However, with these strides, privacy, affordability and biases are significant concerns we must be aware of. Protecting individuals' personal information and ensuring data security are non-negotiable. That's why, through Samsung Knox, we implement stringent measures such as data encryption, anonymisation, and data minimisation to safeguard user privacy. Equally important is addressing biases in data sets and algorithms. This is critical to ensuring inclusivity and diversity in AI development.

The fact that many people believe change is happening too quickly is understandable.

We have a responsibility to show how new technologies such as AI can benefit everyone.

This will involve collaboration with experts to make these innovations easier to understand – ensuring that communication is honest – and that we’re developing technology that has people’s best interests at the core.

An Equitable Future, Accessible to All

I was recently inspired by an example of AI's potential in mental health support. It comes from an NHS study across 28 NHS Talking Therapies services in England where the technology was used to analyse feedback from 42,332 individuals. It revealed a remarkable surge in referrals, particularly from minority groups, with non-binary individuals seeking support up by a massive 179% and ethnic minorities by 29%, notably Asian or Asian British groups (39%) and Black or Black British groups (40%). Stats like these point to a potentially transformative impact on mental health accessibility.

I am enthusiastic about the potential of harnessing the power of AI for social good and inclusivity.

We are already paving the way for a more accessible and equitable future. Our goal is to keep our eyes firmly on the prize – to make AI more accessible, more democratic, and able to revolutionise how we connect and interact with the world around us. by the rapid pace of change in the technology sector.

But I think we should always question if Artificial Intelligence (AI) is really serving us. Is it improving the quality of life for humans? Is it closing the gaps in accessibility and supporting diverse groups? Accessibility Awareness Day is a great opportunity to reflect on this.