Professor contributes to first comprehensive framework for AI interpreting

Dr. Abraham Glasser, Assistant Professor in the Accessible Human-Centered Computing and Policy program (AHCP) and Co-Director of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH RERC) at Gallaudet, is working to ensure AI is used responsibly when used for interpretation.

Glasser is part of the Coalition for Sign Language Equity in Technology (CoSET), which recently released a toolkit with the SAFE AI Task Force to help decision makers navigate the use of AI for interpreting solutions. This toolkit is geared towards leaders responsible for language access.

Working to advance sign language equity in AI, CoSET offers Signly ASL translations on their blog post about this toolkit publication. According to the Newswire press release, the toolkit “helps teams evaluate when and how to use AI and hybrid AI-human solutions, and when to reserve interactions for qualified human interpreters.”

The released toolkit (Part A) is one of three that will eventually be rolled out. Part A includes five practical checklists for teams to use: 

• Organizational Readiness
• Setting-Specific Guidance
• Risk Factor Assessment Framework
• Vendor Assessment 
• RFP Guidance

Part B will cover technical specifications, and Part C will cover legal and practical considerations for AI and hybrid interpreting solutions.

Glasser says, “As we navigate the future of communication, this toolkit provides a crucial compass in adopting AI interpreting. It ensures that as we embrace technological innovation, we do so SAFEly for all languages, both spoken and signed.”

Download the toolkit and use the hashtag #DeafSafeAI when sharing on social media. 

Find out more about Gallaudet’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Technology Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (DHH-RERC) grant.