Technical Perspective: Can AI Keep Accessible Communication in the Picture?

Communication is a vital part of being--a means to affect change in the world, speak with loved ones, or simply get our needs and wants met. However, this can be challenging for people with communication impairments--a growing proportion of the population who might experience difficulties because of a stroke, autism, or sensory challenges. A growing field intends to use AI to augment language to support these users, however, a key tension is whether this can be done without reducing autonomy. Here, I discuss a piece of recent research that explores how AI can use photos to support communication. People with communication impairments are underserved due to the nature of their disability.