Vol: 15, Issue: 1 2025

Navigating the Intersection of Visual Impairment & Artificial Intelligence: A Deep Dive into Empowerment, Prospects & Future Challenges

Dr Raut Nikita, Latey Sameer

The ongoing developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have created the possibility of developing new solutions to increase accessibility, autonomy, and inclusion for Visually Impaired (VI) individuals. In this paper, we have tried to visualize possible AI-assisted solutions in the fields of education, employment, and independent living. Artificial Intelligence can provide accessible interactive learning products that would raise the overall quality of the learning experience of VI students and greatly improve their learning outcomes. In addition, these products will make it possible for VI students to pursue areas of study that are considered out-of-bounds due to a lack of accessible educational material. AI-powered screen readers and voice-controlled interfaces in the workplace can enhance accessibility in the workplace enabling the VI employees to compete for jobs on par with their sighted counterparts and enable them to access a wider range of job opportunities. But the development of AI is a double-edged sword and if care is not taken, the developments in Artificial Intelligence can result in further marginalization of VI individuals. In the second part of this paper, we have suggested steps or precautions to be taken to ensure that the negative effects are minimized. These precautions include taking care that the training material used to train AI tools is free of biases against persons with visual impairment, integrating inclusive development principles in the development of AI tools right from the inception stage, and ensuring that the AI tools are affordable.