The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Will AI tech like ChatGPT improve inclusion for people with communication disability?

  • Written by Bronwyn Hemsley, Professor of Speech Pathology, University of Technology Sydney
Will AI tech like ChatGPT improve inclusion for people with communication disability?

If you’re one of the 1.2 million[1] Australians with communication disability or among the 44% of Australian adults with low literacy[2], you may soon find helpful, automated communication assistance online.

The chat bot ChatGPT[3] – based on GTP3, a large language model – is a disruptive technology designed to “provide human-like responses[4]” to user input. It is a form of artificial intelligence (AI), boosted by machine learning, is used by more than one million people[5] and is impressing educators[6].

It responds to the user’s questions and commands, and can draw upon its billions of words to process and generate text, appearing informative and knowledgeable.

Described somewhat poetically as producing “fluent bullshit[7]”, its unchecked outputs may be plausible enough to score a pass mark on assignments and tests, while bypassing plagiarism detection software[8].

If it becomes accessible for everyone, AI of this type could do more than disrupt exams. It could help people with communication disability and others who struggle with text, and could also significantly enhance rate of communication. People using speech generating devices are often limited to laboriously entering a mere 10 words per minute[9] with word prediction only increasing that to 12-18 words per minute[10].

Read more: The ChatGPT chatbot is blowing people away with its writing skills. An expert explains why it's so impressive[11]

Communication disability can leave you lost for words – and excluded

There are many types of communication disability impacting a person’s ability to speak, understand, or write.

Impairments of speech, language and social communication are associated with a wide range of conditions[12] including cerebral palsy, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and motor neurone disease. Communication disabilities can impact the clarity of your speech and what you can say, your ability to understand others or express yourself, and your skills in reading and writing[13].

A communication disability can mean you need to economise on what you say, as each word takes more effort and time to produce or write. If you have limited literacy, you’ll need text simplified[14] to make sense of it. You’re also more likely to encounter more barriers to completing training, getting a job[15], forming relationships[16], managing your own health and life decisions, and participating in social networks[17].

How technology like ChatGPT could help

AI like ChatGPT can help pull information together in a neat text, and it can turn written text into a summary for readers with low literacy[18].

We already know that AI assistants like “Alexa” and “Siri” can help people with intellectual disability[19] and speech impairments[20] to communicate and speech-recognition software is improving.

But ChatGPT looks like it will be more inclusive of diversity by being able to understand poorly written commands, or sentences with several grammar or spelling errors. It can reportedly “read” poorly structured input, re-write and improve imperfect writing, and simplify complex texts into simpler summaries[21] for early-stage readers. ChatGPT could be considered an “assistive technology” if it assists people with communication disability to get their message across more efficiently or effectively.

chat gpt text box
Chat Pic. Author

Read more: The dawn of AI has come, and its implications for education couldn't be more significant[22]

A user perspective

As a qualified lawyer and a person with cerebral palsy and no speech, co-author Fiona Given relies on assistive communication technologies, including augmentative and alternative communication[23] speech-generating devices. Fiona says:

[…] each word and message that I compose takes me substantially more time and effort than a person who speaks. So I economise on that, and my written messages using current assistive technologies are often short and to the point. This can cause many problems, as I may be perceived as curt, if not rude, and I’m also not fully explaining what I mean.

Having tested the system, Fiona says ChatGPT could be particularly useful in adding the polite parts of emails and letters.

It can save me time and effort whilst maintaining my professionalism. One day, AI like ChatGPT may be installed into my speech-generating device. Yes, it raises questions of authorship and brings in doubt over who did the writing. That’s the case also with word prediction software – who thought of the word first? I see it as a type of co-authorship, and people like me will still need to be able to read and check it reflects what they want to say and edit and authorise the output accordingly.

AI technologies like ChatGPT may help people with communication disability to:

  • expand on short sentences, saving time and effort
  • draft or improve texts for emails, instructions, or assignments
  • suggest scripts to practice or rehearse what to say in social situations
  • model how to be “more polite” or “more direct” in written communication
  • practice conversations, including asking and answering questions
  • correct errors in texts produced for a range of purposes
  • write a complaint letter, including nuance and outcomes of not taking action
  • help with making that first approach to a person socially.
Man stands holding ipad in group of people talking AI could suggest scripts for conversations. Getty/Jessie Casson[24]

Future AI must be inclusive and accessible

Given its potential for text-based assistance, it is important to know if people with communication disability will be able to access chatbots like ChatGPT.

We don’t know how many of the one million users testing the ChatGPT system now have problems with literacy, written expression, or spelling. But so far it looks like a game changer to help people produce texts with little or less effort.

The experiences of people with communication disability in using AI like ChatGPT are vital in the future co-design of assistive technologies. We need to know more about their views on acceptability, usability, and authenticity of the messages produced. With a screen reader, the ChatGPT output could become the user’s “voice”. So being able to check, edit, and confirm or reject AI writing is vital. Any incremental improvements to chat bots, that take into account what helps and hinders access and inclusion, are important if people with communication disability are going to benefit from advancements in AI[25].

Read more: From glasses to mobility scooters, 'assistive technology' isn't always high-tech. A WHO roadmap could help 2 million Australians get theirs[26]

References

  1. ^ 1.2 million (www.abs.gov.au)
  2. ^ 44% of Australian adults with low literacy (www.stylemanual.gov.au)
  3. ^ ChatGPT (chat.openai.com)
  4. ^ provide human-like responses (help.openai.com)
  5. ^ more than one million people (www.fastcompany.com)
  6. ^ impressing educators (theconversation.com)
  7. ^ fluent bullshit (www.wired.co.uk)
  8. ^ bypassing plagiarism detection software (www.vox.com)
  9. ^ 10 words per minute (www.tandfonline.com)
  10. ^ 12-18 words per minute (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
  11. ^ The ChatGPT chatbot is blowing people away with its writing skills. An expert explains why it's so impressive (theconversation.com)
  12. ^ a wide range of conditions (www.cdacanada.com)
  13. ^ reading and writing (journals.sagepub.com)
  14. ^ text simplified (www.cdc.gov)
  15. ^ getting a job (www.aihw.gov.au)
  16. ^ forming relationships (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  17. ^ participating in social networks (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  18. ^ into a summary for readers with low literacy (www.sigmoid.com)
  19. ^ people with intellectual disability (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
  20. ^ speech impairments (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  21. ^ into simpler summaries (www.sigmoid.com)
  22. ^ The dawn of AI has come, and its implications for education couldn't be more significant (theconversation.com)
  23. ^ augmentative and alternative communication (www.asha.org)
  24. ^ Getty/Jessie Casson (www.gettyimages.com.au)
  25. ^ from advancements in AI (ieeexplore.ieee.org)
  26. ^ From glasses to mobility scooters, 'assistive technology' isn't always high-tech. A WHO roadmap could help 2 million Australians get theirs (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/will-ai-tech-like-chatgpt-improve-inclusion-for-people-with-communication-disability-196481

Times Magazine

Building a Strong Online Presence with Katoomba Web Design

Katoomba web design is more than just creating a website that looks good—it’s about building an online presence that reflects your brand, engages your audience, and drives results. For local businesses in the Blue Mountains, a well-designed website a...

September Sunset Polo

International Polo Tour To Bridge Historic Sport, Life-Changing Philanthropy, and Breath-Taking Beauty On Saturday, September 6th, history will be made as the International Polo Tour (IPT), a sports leader headquartered here in South Florida...

5 Ways Microsoft Fabric Simplifies Your Data Analytics Workflow

In today's data-driven world, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their data analytics processes. The sheer volume and complexity of data can be overwhelming, often leading to bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Enter the innovative da...

7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign IT Support Companies in Sydney

Choosing an IT partner can feel like buying an insurance policy you hope you never need. The right choice keeps your team productive, your data safe, and your budget predictable. The wrong choice shows up as slow tickets, surprise bills, and risky sh...

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in the Sutherland Shire who may not have the financial means to pay for private legal assistance, legal aid ensures that everyone has access to representa...

Watercolor vs. Oil vs. Digital: Which Medium Fits Your Pet's Personality?

When it comes to immortalizing your pet’s unique personality in art, choosing the right medium is essential. Each artistic medium, whether watercolor, oil, or digital, has distinct qualities that can bring out the spirit of your furry friend in dif...

The Times Features

From Garden to Gift: Why Roses Make the Perfect Present

Think back to the last time you gave or received flowers. Chances are, roses were part of the bunch, or maybe they were the whole bunch.   Roses tend to leave an impression. Even ...

Do I have insomnia? 5 reasons why you might not

Even a single night of sleep trouble can feel distressing and lonely. You toss and turn, stare at the ceiling, and wonder how you’ll cope tomorrow. No wonder many people star...

Wedding Photography Trends You Need to Know (Before You Regret Your Album)

Your wedding album should be a timeless keepsake, not something you cringe at years later. Trends may come and go, but choosing the right wedding photography approach ensures your ...

Can you say no to your doctor using an AI scribe?

Doctors’ offices were once private. But increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) scribes (also known as digital scribes) are listening in. These tools can record and trans...

There’s a new vaccine for pneumococcal disease in Australia. Here’s what to know

The Australian government announced last week there’s a new vaccine[1] for pneumococcal disease on the National Immunisation Program for all children. This vaccine replaces pr...

What Makes a Small Group Tour of Italy So Memorable?

Traveling to Italy is on almost every bucket list. From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the sparkling canals of Venice, the country is filled with sights, flavors, and experiences ...