The revolution that AI is bringing could have negative consequences for the collective if a number of recommendations are not heeded.
The report “Impact of artificial intelligence on the rights of people with disabilities” is a complete analysis in which is estimated risks and opportunities that artificial intelligence (AI) offers people with intellectual disabilities. In addition, it contains numerous application tips related to the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
This report came about as a result of the concerns of the movement of intellectual disability organizations. Specific, ONCE Foundation and the Royal Board on Disability They wanted to do this reflective analysis broken down into multiple blocks.
On the one hand and once that explains Basic concepts of AI and its developmentanalyzes the most common types of services that people with disabilities have access to: voice assistants, smart translators, smart bracelets, leisure and employment platforms, navigation systems, etc.
Next, The authors reflect on AI in the context of the rights of persons with disabilities, taking into account the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Spanish jurisprudence.
Before giving in Conclusionsthe report asks about that Evidence and opinions of people with disabilities about this technology and finally it offers conclusions and recommendations.
According to the report, “it’s reasonable to say that.” People with disabilities are “up to date” with the AI-based products and services in use.“. The authors were also able to show this the AI algorithms do not take appropriate disability data into account and there is a severe lack of accessibility.
Next to, “Certain limitations have been identified in natural language processors and speech recognition in virtual personal assistants, in biometric systems, in artificial vision recognition or in autonomous driving.”
For all of that Royal Disability Council It is recommended to adopt specific approaches based on the principles of equality and non-discrimination through a series of proposals:
1. A regulation must take into account comprehensive accessibilityand in particular the general conditions of accessibility to the information society and cognitive accessibility.
2. one must include a new set of general conditions for the accessibility of AI systems to protect the rights of people with disabilities in the face of the new challenges of AI.
3. It is necessary to promote Reform of the General Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities consider including general conditions for access to AI systems for people with disabilities.
4. In relation to the design and implementation of public policies, Strategies must be created that aim for more visibility and mutual systematics. Disability strategies are very reluctant to use AI-based technologies.
5. The requirements for the acquisition of inclusive AI systems or tools should be regulated.
6. The validity of AI systems in people with disabilities could be guaranteed by creating Inclusion Certificates.
7. Networks that promote data sovereignty should be promoted and enable better interaction between public, private and social initiative groups.
8th. It is necessary to develop comprehensive management tools for the different sectors that fall under the competence of public administrations, such as B. public transport, the health or education system, which take into account the monitoring of accessibility indicators in their design.
9. They should be encouraged from the various plans and public policies Technologies that have already proven to be collectively integrativesuch as the adaptation of workplaces or accessibility in urban mobility using language assistants.
10. Development initiatives should be encouraged in those areas that have proven to be most vulnerable: personal relationships and friendships, healthcare and emotional well-being, management of administrative procedures (banking, insurance…), data protection and privacy.
11. The additional costs associated with a disability should not be a barrier to purchasing AI-enabled products and services. This barrier to entry can be a final source of exclusion, so measures to avoid these additional costs need to be explored.
Impact of artificial intelligence on the rights of people with disabilities, available by clicking here.
In connection with this report by DOWN ESPAÑA, we would also like to highlight this news about new technologies and the involvement of people with Down Syndrome, to which CEDOWN JEREZ has collaborated: A study carried out in Jerez shows that facial recognition systems discriminate against people with Down Syndrome Down -Syndrome