The Royal Society for Blind Children highlights the need for improved AI technology design to better serve blind and partially sighted individuals.

Blind and partially sighted individuals are increasingly at risk of exclusion from the technological advancements offered by artificial intelligence (AI). As technology evolves, it is crucial for developers and companies to prioritize inclusivity, ensuring that everyone can benefit from these innovations rather than facing new forms of discrimination. Recent calls from advocates emphasize the necessity of better-designed AI systems that cater specifically to the needs of those with visual impairments, thereby fostering equal experiences in both digital and real-life interactions.

Tom Pey, the new president of the Royal Society for Blind Children, has voiced concerns over how AI tools have inadvertently widened the gap between blind individuals and their sighted counterparts. This gap is evident in various applications, including video games and AI technologies that rely heavily on visual information. Pey argues that such design oversights not only hinder the accessibility of these technologies for blind children but also alienate them from shared cultural experiences, significantly impacting their social interactions and participation in mainstream technological environments.