How AI has revolutionised the world of assistive devices to aid persons with disabilities -

What if your thoughts could control technology directly or even shape everything around you? Imagine a future where people could 3D print their food, or where edible password pills secure your identity.

These are no longer distant fantasies. Once confined to science fiction, such scenarios are rapidly becoming reality. They reveal a future where Artificial Intelligence (AI) reshapes human life, not just through faster processors or smarter machines, but by redefining what it means to be human.

Researchers are already experimenting with technologies that blur the lines between biology and machines. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Dormio headset, for instance, can influence dream content by delivering auditory prompts while the wearer is asleep, opening up a market where dreams themselves could be recorded, traded, or replayed. Neural prostheses, like those being tested by U.S.-based neurotechnology company Neuralink and National Institutes of Health-funded groups, have shown potential to erase or alter memories, raising profound questions about identity, and consent.

Drivers of change

Driving these shifts are powerful accelerators pulling AI from the ivory tower into daily life. First, accessibility: what once needed labs and supercomputers can now run on laptops, with pre-trained models and simple interfaces, lowering entry barriers. Second, speed: months of trial-and-error now collapse into days, making innovation about rapid iteration, not buggy prototypes. Third, creativity: with cloud, low-code platforms, and democratised deep-tech, expertise is no longer the bottleneck—imagination is. The real differentiator is bold questions and new possibilities. Finally, human–AI collaboration: the shift is not machines replacing people but amplifying judgment—doctors diagnosing faster, teachers personalising lessons, entrepreneurs testing ideas at scale. Together, these forces make AI not just a technological revolution but a human one.

This convergence points to an undeniable truth: the future of you will not be a passive outcome but will be actively engineered, negotiated, and, in many cases, disrupted by AI.

AI is no longer in the background. It is rapidly transforming economic, social, and even emotional aspects of life. The challenge is not to resist, but to shape and harness it for human progress. With purpose, AI becomes an enabler, not just a disruptor. Nowhere is this clearer than in disability inclusion, where AI-driven tools are breaking barriers in education, employment, and daily living, turning limitations into possibilities.

Already, AI-powered assistive tools are breaking barriers. AI-based assistive technology innovations prove that AI is not just about efficiency, but also about dignity, and inclusion. The impact is economic too. Globally, the AI-powered Assistive Technology market is projected to grow from $22 billion in 2022 to $31 billion by 2030. Within this, AI-based rehabilitation tools are set to triple from $2 billion to $5.6 billion between 2023 and 2031. At a macro level, inclusion through AI could help societies reclaim 1–7% of GDP currently lost due to exclusion.

Unlocking minds

One of the most profound applications of AI lies in communication and learning for persons with disabilities (PwDs). For persons with speech impairments, traditional augmentative and alternative communication systems often fall short. AI-enhanced tools can now recognise atypical patterns such as slurred or stuttered speech and translate them into clear output. Voiceittfrom Israel, for instance, uses AI-driven speech recognition to give non-verbal or differently speaking individuals a fluent voice in real time.

In education, students with ADHD or cognitive challenges often struggle with organisation and deadlines. AI-powered scheduling systems bridge this gap. Vanderbilt University’s Planning Assistant can scan syllabi, extract deadlines, and auto-create calendars—making learning more structured and accessible for diverse learners.

Opening doors

Job readiness, a common barrier for PwDs, is being addressed through AI-driven VR simulations. Platforms such as SIMmersion’s PeopleSim or Indian startup Halara help candidates practice interviews and workplace interactions in safe, adaptive environments, boosting confidence and employability, especially for autistic youth.

Technology careers themselves are becoming more inclusive. GitHub Copilot, a generative AI coding assistant, supports blind programmers by suggesting code and explanations. This enables them to focus on design thinking and problem-solving while fully participating in software development careers.

Living with dignity

AI is redefining mobility, sensory assistance, and daily living. Wheelchairs that respond to facial gestures and brain–spine interfaces enabling paralysed individuals to walk again are no longer futuristic dreams. Similarly, AI-powered glasses like Microsoft’s Seeing AI, MetaAI Ray-Ban, and Smart Vision Glasses describe surroundings, read signs, and even interpret facial expressions, giving visually impaired users autonomy and connection.

As we stand on the edge of a technological revolution, AI is emerging as a great equalizer. In the disability space, it is already transforming learning, livelihood, and living—showing that when guided by empathy and purpose, technology can dissolve barriers once thought insurmountable. But unlocking this promise at scale requires more: investments in inclusive innovation, nurturing scalable solutions, and mass deployment across society. This is not the task of startups and technologists alone, but a collective responsibility of governments, investors, and communities. We must build ecosystems that dare to design for inclusion.

Let technology rise not as a privilege for a few, but as a bridge for all—reshaping societies where every individual, regardless of ability, can live, learn, and thrive with dignity.

(Prateek Madhav, is co-Founder and CEO, AssisTech Foundation. prateek@atflabs.org)