The Humane AI Pin can magnetically clip onto clothing. Source: Humane Inc.
A Personal Journey
As the CEO of Pneuma Solutions and a blind individual, my journey through the world of technology is one of hope, challenge, and advocacy. The unveiling of the Humane AI Pin initially filled me with excitement, but this quickly turned to dismay when I realized the lack of information on its accessibility features. This isn’t just a Humane issue; it reflects a wider trend in the tech industry where the needs of the visually impaired are often overlooked.
The Industry’s Oversight
One of the most significant oversights in the tech industry, including by leaders like Sam Altman and Jony Ive, is the lack of clear, upfront documentation about new accessibility features. Too often, updates affecting accessibility feel like afterthoughts, leaving the visually impaired community to scramble for information and adapt to changes without guidance. This approach is not just inconvenient; it’s dismissive of our needs and experiences.
- Collaboration and Innovation: Altman, through his work with OpenAI, collaborated with Be My Eyes to create Be My AI, engaging tens of thousands of blind people worldwide. This initiative exemplifies the immense value of including our community in the development process. The feedback significantly enhanced the product, demonstrating how vital our involvement is. So, why then, in the case of the AI Pin, has this inclusive approach been seemingly abandoned?
- Apple’s Legacy: Ive, with his background at Apple, should similarly understand the importance of integrating accessibility from the beginning. Apple’s commitment to accessibility has been a beacon for others to follow, yet this commitment seems to have been overlooked in his current projects.
A Moment of Realization
The revelation of the AI Pin was a poignant moment for me, as it was for many in the visually impaired community. The excitement of a new product, followed by the realization that we might not be able to use it, is a feeling all too familiar and deeply saddening.
The Path Forward
The solution isn’t complex. It involves genuine dialogue, respect, and inclusive practices. Engaging with us through focus groups, actively participating in our communities, and considering our feedback are not just acts of courtesy – they are necessities. Our community is more than just consumers; we have a vibrant developer community with expertise in accessibility design. The saying “Nothing about us without us” is our plea for equal consideration and respect.
Engagement and Respect
My message to the tech industry is clear: We are here, we matter, and we have much to contribute. Engage with us, respect us, and include us from the beginning.
Inclusive Technology:
The future of technology must be accessible for all, and it starts with valuing every voice. As Aretha Franklin famously sang, all we’re asking for is a little respect – R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Let’s make that the foundation of our approach to technology development.
Laurence Neils says
It is annoying to be ignored, and there is certainly a tendency among people to focus on the sighted and think about us only when they have to. I commiserate with Mr. Calvo about these things, and they certainly happen. However, I think he has assumed this is happening when this hasn’t been proven. By focusing on Humane AI at this point, he is putting a lot of expectations on a prerelease product announcement video, expectations which in my opinion are unreasonable and which are not met elsewhere. At the moment, we have very little information from Humane AI about their product. We’re lacking such important details as how long the battery will last for their expensive new gadget, so it shouldn’t be surprising that we lack a lot of other information as well, including information about accessibility or the lack thereof.
Announcement videos aren’t well-known for their encyclopedic details about the product, and this one is no exception. However, instead of stating my opinion on what we should expect them to contain, let’s take a look at what Pneuma Solutions has done in their videos. If I go to the Pneuma Solutions website and select the Remote Incident Manager product, they have a five-minute video that explains the product. It doesn’t contain every detail about the product. To make a short list of things that aren’t mentioned at all:
1. It makes no reference to Braille displays, even though such displays are required for any deaf-blind user. From the video, one has no idea whether they are supported at all. In fact, not even their entire manual makes a single mention of this. I’m guessing that they probably are, but I have not used the application yet, so I don’t know either.
2. It makes no reference to input devices, even though some users with physical disabilities will need them.
3. It does not say whether languages other than English are supported. The answer now is yes, with a total of six other European languages in beta.
These details are important, and number 1 at the very least should be in the manual, but it doesn’t automatically follow that it needs to be in the five-minute summary video. That video covers only the basic features of the product. To attack Pneuma because their video doesn’t list languages would be unfair to them, and to attack Humane AI for not mentioning accessibility in their launch video is similar. Unfortunately, we are a small subset of their customers. For context, there are estimated to be about 43 million blind people worldwide, which is approximately the same number of speakers of Yoruba or half the number of speakers of Korean. If you see a launch video that doesn’t specifically mention the situation for Yoruba- or Korean-speaking users, do you react the same way as you would if it doesn’t mention the blind?
If Humane AI decides that we are unimportant and they will make no effort to support our use case, by all means let us complain. I’d rather focus on other companies that have done the same, for example the manufacturers of the thermostat in my apartment which I had to use a videocall to turn on successfully because every button function depends on what the screen says, but any company that decides to ignore us is worthy of our disapproval. However, we should not assume that any time we’re not mentioned, it means they’re ignoring us. By jumping to those conclusions, we’re assuming the worst of a company that may not intend it. If I assumed that RIM would not allow me to use Braille on a remote computer because the video doesn’t mention it, I might be attacking them unfairly. If I need to know that, I should do more research than simply watching one video and assuming based on its content.
Mike Calvo says
Thank you for your comment, which raises important points about expectations and assumptions in product announcements. As one of the co-founders of Pneuma Solutions, a blind-owned and blind-run company, I’d like to offer some perspective on our approach to accessibility and how it contrasts with what we’ve seen from Humane AI.
Inherent Commitment to Accessibility: At Pneuma Solutions, accessibility isn’t a feature we add; it’s the core of everything we create. Being blind-owned and operated, we inherently understand the needs of the visually impaired community. This understanding is reflected in all our products, including the Remote Incident Manager (RIM). While we might not mention every accessibility detail in a short video, our commitment to this market is unwavering and intrinsic to our identity.
Expectations from Industry Leaders: The lack of mention of any disability community, not just the visually impaired, in Humane AI’s announcement is particularly striking given the backgrounds of leaders like Jony Ive and Sam Altman. Both have been involved in accessibility initiatives in the past. This omission is not just about a lack of detail in a product announcement; it’s about recognizing and valuing a significant user base from the outset.
Comparison with Language Support: The comparison to language support is a valid one, but it also highlights a key point: just as language inclusivity is a given in global products, so too should be accessibility features.
Communication and Engagement: It’s not just about what is said in announcement videos; it’s about ongoing communication and engagement with the disability community. At Pneuma Solutions, we continually interact with our users to ensure our products meet their needs. This proactive approach is something we believe should be standard across the tech industry, particularly for companies at the forefront of AI innovation.
In summary, while we understand that initial product announcements may not cover every detail, the complete absence of any mention of accessibility in the context of AI innovations, especially from companies led by figures with a history in accessibility, is disappointing. It’s not about making assumptions; it’s about expecting industry leaders to demonstrate their commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, as we do at Pneuma Solutions.
Christopher E Fox says
I am legally blind 100% in both eyes. Any actual blind hands on use yet? Also, any word on video length yet?