AI and other tech must assist disability groups

Artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbots are joining other inclusive technologies to support accessibility for persons with disabilities, as important for current spikes in service requests about COVID-19. Hearing impaired assistance is advancing, and AI chatbots also, ‘in particular, people who have physical or mental disabilities are among the groups often not considered when discussing inclusion plans. If we are going to live in a world where everyone is equal, then people of all types need the same access to information’. This approach was highlighted by Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology policy to create a virtual chatbot accessible via the Tamkeen website or via a mobile app called WASEL, currently available on Android devices and soon Apple devices (in Arabic).