Deaf Voices Matter in AI Development 🧏♀️🤖
- Tim Scannell
- May 16
- 1 min read
Over the past few weeks, members of the Deaf community, including native BSL users, have tried to share feedback with an AI company developing sign language tools. We pointed out important issues, like when the AI signed “eggs” but it was understood as “Easter eggs” — a small change in sign, but a big change in meaning.
Unfortunately, some of those comments were hidden or blocked.
We’re sharing this not to accuse or target anyone, but to highlight something important:
🧠 AI systems can’t fully understand the richness and complexity of BSL without the involvement of the people who use it every day.
✅ Mistakes are part of learning.
✅ Feedback from native signers is a resource, not a threat.
✅ Collaboration builds trust and better tech.
BSL is not just visual English. It has its grammar, spatial structure, and cultural context. AI can support this, but only when communities are included, heard, and respected from the start.
To all teams working on sign language AI:
This is a shared opportunity to build something meaningful. Let’s keep the conversation open, honest, and inclusive.
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