AI and accessibility: The tools shaping a more inclusive world

Canvs Editorial
Meaningful stories and insightful analyses on design

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Did you know that over 1 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability? Yet, accessibility often gets overlooked in design.

That’s starting to change. The core of this understanding is that addressing the “lowest” common denominator by virtue addresses the total pool.

Thanks to AI, we’re moving from just meeting basic accessibility standards to actually creating better, more inclusive experiences.

With tools like voice assistants and real-time captions, AI is helping people interact with the world in ways that feel more natural and intuitive.

Let’s take a closer look at some products that are leading the way.

1. Voice interaction: From convenience to necessity

Voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri have shifted from being just convenient tools to essential ones, especially for people with physical disabilities. They offer a way to interact with devices without the need for touchscreens or keyboards, which can be limiting.

For instance, someone with limited mobility, with voice commands, can control their environment — adjust the thermostat, turn off lights, or set reminders — without needing to move.

It isn’t just convenience, it’s independence.

For designers, this shift means rethinking navigation. Interfaces built around voice interaction need to be simple and intuitive, without relying on visual or tactile elements. Traditional buttons and menus become secondary as spoken commands take the lead.

Voice-first interaction demands an experience where users can access information or complete tasks without ever needing to look at or touch a screen.

In this context, design becomes about listening rather than seeing.

Voice-controlled apps in niche spaces

Voice-controlled apps are making a real impact in areas where traditional tech falls short.

For example, in healthcare, voice-activated medical devices allow patients with limited mobility to interact with their environment. It can be be either to adjust their hospital bed or calling for help — useful for those who can’t use their hands.

In education, voice technology gives children with physical disabilities a hands-free way to engage with lessons, leveling the playing field.

Another good example of such product is Voiceitt. This **app is designed for people with speech impairments, using AI to recognize and adapt to non-standard speech patterns.

It helps users who may struggle with mainstream voice assistants, communicate better.

2. Real-time captioning: Making sound visible

Real-time captioning has become an essential tool for people with hearing impairments.

AI-driven tools like Google Live Transcribe now transcribe conversations, meetings, and even background sounds instantly, in real-time. This opens up access to everyday interactions that were once difficult or impossible for those with hearing loss.

Picture someone attending a business meeting or participating in a social gathering. Real-time captioning enables them to follow conversations, no matter the noise level or complexity of the discussion.

It’s especially useful in environments like classrooms or live conferences, where important information is conveyed verbally and needs to be understood on the spot.

Multi-language and contextual captioning

AI is making real-time captioning more practical by adding multi-language support, so people in international events or workplaces can follow along, no matter the language.

Tools like Google Translate or Microsoft Translator can instantly convert speech into captions in different languages.

For example, at a conference, captions can be translated live, allowing non-native speakers to fully participate.

Some tools also go a step further, picking up on tone and emotion, so captions aren’t just about words — they give a fuller picture of what’s being said.

3. Object and scene recognition: More than just descriptions

AI tools like Seeing AI and Google Lookout are giving people with visual impairments a better sense of their surroundings, not just by identifying objects but by helping them understand entire scenes.

Someone using Seeing AI to walk down a busy street gets more than just a list of objects. The app might describe people nearby, alert them to cars at a crosswalk, or even note store signs along the way.

In a store, Google Lookout can read product labels aloud, helping users find what they need without asking for help. It’s about more than identifying things; it’s about helping people make sense of the world around them.

AI-powered tools for visual storytelling

Be My Eyes, originally, connected visually impaired users with sighted volunteers to help with tasks.

Now, with AI stepping in, it’s doing more than just identifying objects. It’s helping narrate experiences in ways that add meaning.

For instance, it can describe not only what’s in front of a person but also capture subtler details — like recognizing someone’s facial expression or sensing the mood in a room.

Imagine someone using an AI tool that detects that the person in front of them is smiling, or that the room feels warm and inviting based on the lighting and sounds.

4. AI’s role in user-centered design

Samsung’s Good Vibes app, is designed for deaf-blind users to communicate through vibrations, offering a lifeline where traditional communication falls short.

The app uses Morse code — simple taps and vibrations — to send and receive messages.

A sighted person types a message that gets translated into vibrations, and the deaf-blind user responds using touch patterns.

More accessibility, one interaction at a time

From voice control to real-time captions and everything in between, these tools are helping people interact with their surroundings in ways that feel more natural.

For designers, it’s a chance to rethink how we build, not just for screens, but for real-world spaces. The goal is simple: create environments that adapt to everyone, not just a few.

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