Why neurodivergent perspectives are essential in AI development
AI technology has become a permanent fixture in our lives and discussions around its safety and ethics are more prevalent than ever. There is a growing consensus on the need for inclusivity and ethical considerations in AI development. Representation of neurodivergent perspectives in AI is a crucial aspect that needs more attention. Companies are making efforts to ensure AI accessibility through various features like voice-to-text and clear responses written at an eighth-grade reading level. It is essential for AI development teams to reflect cognitive diversity and for companies to hire from a diverse talent pool to enhance productivity and innovation.
It’s impossible to go a day without talking or hearing about AI — and what makes it powerful and potentially dangerous. We’re well past its hype phase and now operate in a world where the technology has become an even more permanent fixture in our lives. Against this backdrop, everyone has an opinion on how to make AI more inclusive and ethical, as well as who should be responsible for the safety of its innumerable users. Safety and ethics are equally paramount considering the speed new models are built and brought to market, and the oversight needed to ensure models are fair, unbiased, and equitable.
AI Safety and Ethics Discussions
There are big questions to ask and many were raised at the inaugural last month in Paris. Experts in academia, civil society, industry, media, and government discussed and debated the latest developments in AI safety and ethics, but representation of neurodivergent perspectives in AI development wasn’t examined. This is a huge oversight especially considering 70 million people in the US alone learn and think differently, including many in tech. Technology should be built for and serve all, so how do we make sure future AI models are accessible and unbiased if neurodivergent representation isn’t considered? It all starts at the development stage.
AI Accessibility: No Longer a Novelty
The good news is we aren’t starting from scratch, but there’s still a long way to go before accessibility is synonymous with the development of ethical and inclusive AI. In the last few years, we’ve seen companies like Apple and Google, who’ve created and delivered mobile offerings like Apple’s Live Speech and Eye Tracking, as well as Google’s Guided Frame and Lookout. But accessibility in tech is still viewed as a niche offering. That’s why the Understood Assistant was developed and trained by experts, who focus on those with learning and thinking differences, with the goal to make our vast content library more accessible. It helps by including a voice-to-text feature to ask questions, for instance, and its clear, concise responses are written at an eighth-grade reading level. But there’s much more to do, and it’ll be an uphill battle for some organizations.
Discussions around inclusivity remain contentious, all while AI continues to dominate content, business, and how people live their lives. Still, we must prioritize and respect that everyone’s brain is wired differently.
Shaping the AI Landscape
As leading companies edge closer to achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) by 2027, early and strategic involvement in shaping the AI landscape is critical. But we must remember that rapid AI evolution demands caution. In many cases, there are more questions than answers but it’s vital we focus on and prioritize the safety and inclusivity elements of AI so the technology is what those with learning and thinking differences need and deserve.