Shew2020AbleismTechnoableism

Disability studies 1
Ashley Shew, "Ableism, Technoableism, and Future AI"

Bibliographic info

Ashley Shew (2020) Ableism, technoableism, and future AI. IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, 39(1), 40-85.

Commentary

This paper serves as a step towards more inclusive AI, as it provides a valuable overview of ableism and places the concept into the context of AI, denoting it with "technoableism". I think that this kind of work is important, as ethical AI often focuses either on internal mechanisms (e.g., bias in data) or general data literacy problems (e.g., inaccessibility of AI systems for some heterogeneous groups of people), but not specifically on how people with disabilities are disadvantaged when it comes to AI. This paper tries to explain how ableism is present in current (AI) technologies, and does so by describing reactions from the disability community to these technologies. This is an effective way to explain the problems in the way the technology operationalizes, as the technologies described serve as examples and the reactions from the community are personal, making the reader sympathize with its members. This approach is also a good example of what I think the author wants to highlight in this paper: that professionals should ask the disability community to tell them what they need, instead of thinking for them and designing tools they think are essential.
I think the main weakness of the paper lies in the fact that AI is not seperated from other technologies enough. As said before, the author explains how ableism is present in AI by giving examples of ableist applications. However, this practical focus prevents the author to elaborate further on the underlying structural differences of AI compared to other technologies, which might affect the role AI plays in context of ableism. The author does mention that data privacy plays a magnified role in AI ableism and that the corresponding risks are different for the disability community, but other AI-specific risks (e.g., underrepresentation in data) remain untouched. Furthermore, while I think the author does an excellent job in explaining why AI applications are often ableist, it focuses less on explaining what would be useful tools for the disability community that would be more accepting and inclusive.

Excerpts & Key Quotes

Environments should fit the people in them

"AI designers are clearly focused on changing the individual to fit the environment rather than the other way around. For example, many of the “conveniences” offered by AI applications are mostly conveniences for the benefit of the user’s family, rather than the users themselves."

Comment:

This quote was an eyeopener for me, as it made me aware that this is indeed what most applications are focused on, while this is not user-friendly at all. For example, virtual or robot caregivers are often designed with the aim of easing the workload of family members or other human caregivers. However, to make applications truly pleasant and useful for their users, they should be adjusted specifically to them instead. Furthermore, when AI technology is framed as helping the caregivers, it places people from the disability community as recipients of care rather than agents in their own lives. Thus, it can be observed that the current focus of AI dehumanizes people from the disability community.

The crux of the problem of ableism in AI

"The crux of the problem is that AI designs, like other technologies meant to address disability issues, are often spearheaded by people not deeply embedded in the disability community —people who simply imagine what it might be like to be disabled or elderly rather than base their design on the experiences and needs of real disabled people."

Comment:

This quote explains the major reason of why ableism is present in AI applications. While I do not have any facts about AI professionals demographics, I think this is probably true. This passage also immediately shows a way to improve the field of AI: simply by including more people from the disability and elderly community in the design process. This inclusion can present itself in multiple forms, and it might depend on the context what is needed exactly. I think this quote therefore represents a useful recommendation for the future of AI.

Disabled bodies and minds do not need to be 'fixed'

"[...] we can both work to support individuals’ particular interests and needs and work to create a more accessible world for all people. But we cannot do either if we continue to design technologies that re-inscribe the “cure” or normalization of individual disabled bodies and minds instead of making worlds more conducive to our existence."

Comment:

This passage marks the last sentences of the paper, and I think it gives a powerful message. It indicates the main statement this paper tries to explain: people with a disability do not need to be cured. Rather, AI has the unique opportunity to serve people's individual interests and contribute to a more accessible world for all. Therefore, this passage leaves me hopeful for a better future, where there lies a huge opportunity for AI to make a difference.