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š§āāļøš¤ My 2025 LinkedIn Rewind (by Coauthor.studio)
Happy New Year.2025 was the year I kept asking one question: If AI claims to understand sign language, who is accountable when it fails? I amĀ not Ā an AI developer or engineer. My role is to evaluate whether accessibilityĀ actually works Ā for Deaf and BSL users, especially when AI is introduced into high-risk settings. This year, I saw real progress. I also saw serious gaps. Key moments in 2025: Started asĀ Accessibility Consultant at PN Inclusion Ā (July 2025) AchievedĀ AI
Tim Scannell
Jan 62 min read
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Deaf- and Sign-Language-Led Authority in 2026
A Deaf- and Sign-Language-Led authority is needed in sign language AI ā now. As AI systems involving sign language become more visible, progress alone is no longer enough. What is increasingly missing from the conversation isĀ linguistic authority . Sign languages are not motion systems. They areĀ full languages , dependent on: manual dexterity spatial grammar context culture lived Deaf expertise Without Deaf-led authority, AI risks producing outputs that are technically imp
Tim Scannell
Jan 51 min read
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š” AI + Sign Language: Building Tools That Truly Understand
Recently, Iāve seen growing interest in tools like Sign-Speak and SignGemma ā both exploring how AI can better understand sign language, not just display it. š§ Sign-Speak focuses on real-time sign-to-text and sign-to-voice translation, giving Deaf users and interpreters more direct ways to communicate.š¤ SignGemma , from Google DeepMind, explores sign language recognition using large-scale AI models. Out there, we already see many providers creating audio-to-text , tex
Tim Scannell
Nov 12, 20251 min read
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š§ Before You Invest: The Ethical AI-BSL Checklist
AI has the potential to enhance accessibility, but without rigorous ethical oversight and Deaf leadership , it risks deepening linguistic inequalityāthe new Digital Milan . For any hearing or non-signing organisation planning to buy, fund, or promote an "AI Sign Language" product, due diligence is mandatory. Before you fund, buy, or promote an "AI Sign Language" tool, you must ask these 7 Questions. AI innovation without ethical governance leads to Language Injustice . We nee
Tim Scannell
Nov 8, 20252 min read
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š§ Final Reflection on AI, BSL, & Language Justice: We Must Not Repeat History.
Hearing-led control over Deaf Language and knowledge. Languages never colonised again. Over the past year, my research has explored how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming access to British Sign Language (BSL) . What I found confirms a critical truth: BSL is a living language , not just data, and its interface with AI is fundamentally about language power and equality. Too often, AI projects risk repeating historical mistakesāa pattern I call Digital Milan: Innovat
Tim Scannell
Nov 8, 20251 min read
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š AI & Sign Languages: Why Deaf-Led Safeguards Matter
2025 is shaping up to be a turning point in how AI intersects with sign languages. Recent publications highlight a common theme: Irish...
Tim Scannell
Aug 13, 20251 min read
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šØ Ofsted, AI, and Accessibility: Whereās the Sign Language?
Ofsted says it wonāt directly inspect AI tools but will assess how theyāre managed if staff or students are using them. Their new...
Tim Scannell
Jun 30, 20252 min read
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š§ Real-Time Bidirectional Sign Language Translation with Generative AI
Bridging Communication Between Deaf Signers and Hearing Users This AI-powered pipeline supports two-way, real-time communication between...
Tim Scannell
Jun 29, 20251 min read
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š Summary Report: Reflections on AI Companies and Sign Language Technology - Deaf Usersā Experience
After recent meetings with AI companies developing sign language technology, here are key reflections and calls to action shared by Deaf...
Tim Scannell
Jun 1, 20252 min read
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Deaf Voices Matter in AI Development š§āāļøš¤Last week, I shared: āDeaf Voices Matter in AI Developmentā ā and itās now received over 5,000 reactions in just one week.
That shows how deeply this message resonates. š¬ Recently, members of the Deaf community, including native BSL users , gave feedback to a...
Tim Scannell
Jun 1, 20252 min read
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