As AI becomes a bigger part of how people create, communicate, and understand the world, it's essential that people with disabilities are represented accurately, authentically, and with dignity. The images AI generates today influence how society sees disability and how people with disabilities see themselves. That's why I'm excited about the Community Library Creator, a Microsoft Research project that gives disability communities a structured way to shape how they’re represented in AI and help shape the data behind it. What makes it meaningful is that it wasn't built for the disability community; it was built by the disability community. People help create, select, and annotate the images, defining for themselves what authentic representation looks like. They also retain control of the data, including whether to share it or remove it. This work helps address a longstanding gap in AI systems, which have too often overlooked or inaccurately portrayed people with disabilities. More importantly, it demonstrates a principle I believe is fundamental to AI: the people most affected by technology should have a voice in shaping it. Community-led efforts like this move us beyond inclusion as an afterthought and toward AI that better reflects the diversity of human experience. Read how communities are taking charge of AI data: https://lnkd.in/guk2Xirf Christina Mallon Ioana Tanase Anja Thieme #Accessibility #DisabilityInclusion #ResponsibleAI #InclusiveInnovation #AIforAccessibility
Great example of community-integrated co-creation. What if we always consider the community? I believe it would be a better place.
I've always appreciated how you integrate disabled people into the work, Neil Barnett - great to see this!
I strongly agree. As a person with a disability and founder of ClariDroits in France, I believe the best assistive AI is built with people with disabilities, not just for them. Real inclusion starts by listening to lived experience. Congratulations on this important initiative.