Unlocking agency to empower people

Over 1 billion people worldwide – nearly one in six individuals worldwide – live with a disability. Many face daily challenges that affect their mobility, communication and independence. Meanwhile, caregivers, often family members, experience high levels of emotional and physical stress, with one in two individuals reporting significant burnout. These realities highlight the acute need for innovative solutions that not only support individuals with disabilities, but also ease the burden on caregivers.

Artificial intelligence has been touted as a game changer for business – it could also become a valuable tool for empowering carers and the people in their care. AI can be exciting to do more of the same with less effort and time, but its real potential shines when it is adapted, trained, tested and targeted to bring out the best in people, opening up space for people to fulfill their potential, esp. those who were prevented from doing so before.

When designed with social good as the primary motivation, AI becomes a tool for human empowerment, exemplifying what we call prosocial AI.

Personalized care

The power of AI lies in its ability to tailor care. Unlike traditional approaches that offer blanket solutions, AI adapts to everyone’s unique needs. For example, algorithms can analyze health data from wearable devices and patient data 24/7 to develop tailored care plans that fit an individual’s specific conditions, whether related to mobility, cognition or health. Imagine a person with limited mobility who relies on an AI-powered exoskeleton or smart wheelchair. These devices can learn and adapt to the user’s movement patterns, providing real-time adjustments to increase mobility and freedom. This kind of assistance isn’t just about physical movement—it’s about allowing people to navigate the world on their own terms. For caregivers, this means less hands-on management of daily activities, easing the mental and emotional burden

It is one of many examples to illustrate how prosocial AI can serve to address ongoing, real-world, targeted solutions that directly improve the quality of life for both individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. It’s a win-win: those who need care gain independence, while caregivers are better supported.

Advances in communication

Communication is central to human identity. However, for millions with speech impairments due to conditions like Lou Gehrig’s disease or cerebral palsy, this basic function becomes a struggle. HE is changing that reality. Take that of Google Project linkfor example. This AI-driven app learns to interpret the unique speech patterns of speech-impaired individuals, converting their words into intelligible speech

Putting aside matters of a practical nature, imagine the emotional release when one, after years of misunderstanding, can communicate clearly with family, friends, and even colleagues. Beyond simply addressing communication – it restores dignity and reinforces the power of human connection. Designed with a clear focus on improving lives, this AI-powered tool is another example of how AI, when developed with the right intent, can create a win-win for individuals, their support networks and the larger community. wide.

Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

Physical disabilities are part of the equation. Another is emotional and mental health challenges, which are common, especially among individuals facing isolation or chronic health conditions. AI-driven virtual therapists and mental health apps offer a lifeline for people experiencing anxiety, depression or loneliness. Without the ambition to replace existing human relationships, these systems can be designed to recognize early signs of emotional distress by monitoring behavior and speech patterns and trigger alerts to allow early intervention when needed.

For example, AI can detect that a user’s tone or choice of words has changed over time, signaling a possible emotional decline. It can then suggest coping strategies or alert a caregiver. This ability to provide real-time proactive emotional support empowers individuals to manage their mental health while easing the emotional burden placed on caregivers.

If designed with a comprehensive understanding of the human being and the social and physical environment they are navigating AI can contribute to a new era of care. But we can’t expect AI systems to work with a comprehensive logic if the people designing them stick to a narrow definition and a one-sided disciplinary approach. The AIs of the future are only as good/bad as the people designing them today.

Empowerment Through Autonomy

At its core, AI offers individuals with disabilities the opportunity to take control of their lives. Beyond helping them manage their health, AI can enable people to become advocates and agents of their own lives. Whether it’s navigating complex social service systems or managing legal documents, AI-powered assistants can simplify these processes. With AI handling logistical tasks like appointment reminders or financial planning, individuals can focus on living, not just surviving

This transition from dependence to autonomy illustrates AI’s ability to empower. Imagine a person who once relied on a caregiver for every decision, now has the tools to manage their day-to-day affairs on their own. AI can not only address their immediate needs, but also give them the freedom to proactively influence their future. AI is not just about convenience; it can restore agency to those who lose it most.

Integration between devices

The potential of AI in disability care is maximized when it operates within a seamless hybrid ecosystem. In the coming years, Individuals with disabilities will increasingly use multiple assistive devices, such as smart glasses, smart prostheses, and smart communication tools. Each tool pushes the boundaries of independence a little further, whether at home or at work. But imagine if these tools, which can be difficult to manage due to their sophistication, functioned in a seamlessly integrated way that was tailored to be end-user friendly. AI can not only power any tool, but also serve as an intermediary, integrating these devices, allowing them to communicate with each other and respond in a 360-degree way to the user’s needs, reducing the load cognitively increasing the quality of their life.

Overcoming prejudices

But – these benefits are only possible if AI is comprehensive. A critical challenge lies in the potential for bias in AI algorithms. Too often, the datasets used to train AI systems do not have adequate representation of individuals with disabilities. This can lead to AI tools that work well for some but fail for others. To truly deliver on the promise of prosocial AI, developers must ensure that their systems are trained on diverse datasets, reflecting the full spectrum of disability experiences, a wide range of demographic groups and social profiles. A one-size-fits-all approach does not work with the general population and can be deeply harmful to people with specific needs and abilities.

Additionally, privacy and ethical considerations must be placed front and center. As AI collects sensitive health data, it is essential to put strong privacy protections and ethical standards in place. This ensures that individuals can trust the technology that is supposed to support them instead of feeling exposed or exploited.

A Win-Win-Win-Win: How ProSocial AI Benefits Everyone

When AI is designed with human well-being as a primary goal, it catalyzes social good. The benefits extend beyond the individuals it directly serves. Caregivers experience reduced stress, society becomes more inclusive, and businesses that prioritize accessibility find new opportunities for growth. This is the win-win-win of prosocial AI: by adapting, training, testing and targeting AI for social impact, we create a world where individuals with disabilities, their families, communities and even the planet benefit from this technology. .

The potential for AI to transform disability care is huge – but it depends on a commitment to social good. When AI is prosocial, it doesn’t just solve problems; it uplifts life, restores dignity and creates opportunities where there were once obstacles.