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Why artificial intelligence is a human right

Why artificial intelligence is a human right

And how these rights drive breakthroughs in innovation through co-design

For everyone, not just the wealthy

All these communication variants are possible and happening now to varying extents and applicable to every facet of life and society; they are available to everyone regardless of advantage or ability.

Innovation driven by the most marginalised in our community and disability entrepreneurs who have had to navigate the world differently, will bring about a level playing field for all. And there are many examples where innovation driven by human rights and accessibility has benefited everyone.

All people experience functional – or situational – disability in different circumstances. Situational disability is a term used to describe a temporary state imposed by a person's current environment that results in an accessibility issue, such as the inability to use one’s hands to operate a phone when driving.

Situational disabilities impact all people universally and there are opportunities and unrealised potential for all people to benefit or leverage technology advancements that were initiated to reduce the impact of physical or cognitive disability.

Take for example closed captioning, originally implemented to assist people with hearing impairments. The first closed captioned television series appeared on TV on March 16, 1980, allowing deaf people in the United States to understand what they were watching.

A range of forward-looking anti-discrimination and disabilities legislation introduced in the United States, ensured that closed captioning access is built into consumer electronics at a level that guarantees its universality. Today, closed captioning features prominently in public environments and public events, accompanies classroom lectures and web content, and even aids ESL students in learning English. 

Another example is SMS, now pervasive, but its introduction into Australia was accelerated as a result of the intervention of the Human Rights Commission so that people with hearing impairment and their families could communicate with one another – with the same access opportunities as the general population – as mobile technology and devices became mainstream.

And the impact of AI will be even more profound. As I wrote in my contribution to Dr Lucien Engelen’s book, “Augmented Healthcare: the end of the beginning”, this triumph of imagination made real, has triggered the start of an exponential change and has already led to digital humans being implemented in multiple sectors: government, banking and financial services to name a few.

Digital humans will be integral to healthcare, as companions and coaches for health consumers and in so doing, upending the e-health model of past decades. Health consumers and people with disability are already asking for their own digital human.

For cultures where traditions and meaning are passed through story-telling, AI digital humans can enable the young to have conversations with past elders. And significantly, it enables elders to tell their stories and have conversations with future generations.

It is my hope that very soon, my grandsons with dyslexia and communication disabilities, can interact with a digital human AI reading coach whenever and wherever they want: a life-long learning companion to build their confidence, stimulate their imaginations and unlock their immense potential.

And perhaps a near future where every student will have their own digital human coach on their own mobile device, which will literally change the face of education for everyone everywhere.

AI: Advancing human endeavour

While this article discusses very significant advancements in technology innovation and design, it started first and foremost as a question of human rights.

I was interested to understand from the the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) what this would mean for the directions of the web. Together with a couple of colleagues, I spent time in 2015 with Sir Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web, and his team discussing the Human Accessible Web initiative.

Tim Berners-Lee advocates for web neutrality and design universality of access, saying: “The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.”

It is also significant that the objectives of W3C (web accessibility) and the Convention (human rights) align with the W3C saying: “The Web is fundamentally designed to work for all people, whatever their hardware, software, language, culture, location, or physical or mental activity.  When the web meets this goal, it is accessible to people with a diverse range of hearing, movement, sight, and cognitive ability.”

The Research and Development Working Group at the W3C further state that to improve the experience of digital interfaces, the interface should be able to dynamically change to suit the person’s needs or preferences. This requires a new type of interface – such as an interface that works like a person. This was what was achieved with Nadia.

Tim Berners-Lee does have some deep concerns for the human dimension; he recently expressed his concerns that AI will become a controlling force in the economy. There are also differing views among other leading commentators: some calling for limitations on AI; the formulation of an ethics framework; or even a pause while governments and society figure it out.

The greatest risk though is to hit the pause button; if that is even possible. Would this mean that the most marginalised and disadvantaged would be told to wait, while the powerful and wealthy pursue their ambitions?

People with disability described AI as a liberator, and that at last, they had hope for a level playing field. What we know is possible and since Nadia, is being delivered commercially in sectors around the world, must be available and accessible for all. We cannot ignore this fact, and deny humanity the fulfilment that comes from AI as a human right.

Therefore, rather than pausing, establishing AI as a human right is a priority and needs to occur first, otherwise any ‘AI ethics framework’ lacks context, policy reference, governance and risks being captured by vested and powerful interests.

Where AI differs from previous technology shifts and accessibility innovations, is that it exponentially changes outcomes and directions in human endeavour. Without AI established as a human right, the gulf between the life outcomes of the wealthy and the marginalised will further fracture and deepen.

In a scenario where only the wealthy have the means to access AI innovations and services, I believe such a scenario would further compromise government budgets and societal outcomes across health, education, disability and aged care.

However, the upside is also profoundly significant. Establishing AI as a human right would drive unprecedented innovation, research and economic activity in the design and co-design of services.

These innovations would be available and accessible for everyone – not just those that can afford them. Governments would be compelled to action, not just to investigate, but to incorporate AI into the design and delivery of services and programs.

AI has a deep connection to the dignity and advancement of humanity regardless of socio-economic status, physical and mental health, disability and nationality.

The 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2018 provides us with the focus to recognise and protect AI as a human right, and not a privilege to be discretionally granted by others.

Marie Johnson is recognised internationally as an entrepreneurial leader in technology and digital innovation. Marie has led the strategy and implementation of very significant reform programs to the digital machinery of government across service delivery, revenue, identity, payments, authentication and whole-of-government architecture. She is an AIIA Board Director; and former Head of the Technology Authority for the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) responsible for “Nadia”. 

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Tags AIaugmented realityUN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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