Artificial Intelligence in the Lives of People with Disabilities: Advances, Applications, and Challenges

Perspectiva para Pessoas com Deficiência

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has represented a relevant advance in the field of inclusion by enabling the development of technologies capable of reducing physical, communicational, and social barriers faced by people with disabilities. Solutions such as screen readers, virtual assistants, sign language translators, speech recognition systems, and brain-computer interfaces have shown potential to expand autonomy and foster social participation for this population. The present article aimed to analyze the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities, highlighting its main applications and the challenges involved. The research was characterized as qualitative, exploratory, and analytical, and was conducted through a bibliographic review of academic publications produced between 2015 and 2025. The results showed that AI-based assistive technologies contributed to improvements in communication, mobility, and access to education, but also revealed significant limitations. Among the main challenges were the high cost of devices, the lack of standardization, inequalities in access, and ethical issues related to privacy and algorithmic bias. It was concluded that AI has the potential to be consolidated as an instrument of social inclusion and equity, provided that it is accompanied by consistent public policies, user participation in the development process, and future research focused on early diagnosis, evaluation of public policies.