President of Royal Society for Blind Children Advocates for Inclusive AI Design

Tom Pey, the newly appointed president of the Royal Society for Blind Children, has called for improved design of AI-driven technology to better serve blind and partially sighted individuals, The Guardian reported.

He emphasized that current advancements in AI, particularly visually-based tools, are exacerbating discrimination against these communities.

Pey, who lost his sight as a child, highlighted that blind children are increasingly distanced from their peers who can engage with immersive technologies and games. He urged technology secretary Peter Kyle to implement laws that would ensure the inclusion of disabled individuals in tech development.

Despite some progress, such as initiatives from companies like Meta and Google aimed at aiding blind users, Pey argues that a significant gap remains. He stressed the need for designers to prioritize accessibility, stating, “They should design for disabled people” to avoid further marginalization.