AI: A Disabled Take
AI: A Disabled Take
AI. It’s a topic that dominates headlines and is discussed endlessly on social media. There are valid arguments on both sides—both for and against it. However, one perspective that I’ve found surprisingly absent is that of the disability community.
I completely understand the arguments against AI: concerns about the unauthorized use of artists' works in model training, the spread of low-effort, mind-numbing content (like the surge of AI-generated videos on YouTube), and more serious issues like rapidly advancing deepfakes and the environmental impact of AI data centers.
But what often goes unnoticed—or perhaps isn't widely understood—is the tremendous benefit AI can offer those of us who are disabled. For example, I’ve had a stroke that affected my memory and made writing much more challenging than it used to be. My readability has suffered, and sometimes my thoughts don’t come out as clearly as before. AI has been a lifeline for me in this regard. I often draft a blog post or a long-form status and then ask ChatGPT (in my case) to refine its readability. Nearly every time, it turns my writing into something clearer and more coherent, while still keeping my voice intact. It’s been a true blessing.
I know that there are many other ways AI can assist the disabled community, and there are certainly people more knowledgeable than I am who are writing about these uses. But I can’t help but wonder if some people who rely on AI for accessibility hesitate to share their experiences because of the stigma surrounding AI use. Eileen O’Grady's article in the Harvard Gazette is a great starting point for exploring these ideas.
The conversation around AI is absolutely necessary, especially given how quickly it’s becoming integrated into every aspect of our lives. I just hope that, in this discussion, marginalized voices—especially those of the disabled—aren’t left out. AI has the potential to be an incredible tool for humanity, and I’m eager to see how we can harness its power for good in the future.