Blog

Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) , States, public bodies, universities, and organisations have clear obligations to recognise, promote, and protect sign languages — and the people who use and sustain them. As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies increasingly enter the field of sign language translation and accessibility, they are often framed as progress: faster access, wider reach, lower cost. Accessibility is impo

Policy Summary This article sets out key considerations for responsible investment and deployment of AI for sign-language communication, particularly British Sign Language (BSL). Key points for policymakers, funders and commissioners: Current AI systems  do not yet produce fully natural BSL  and should not be treated as equivalent to human interpretation. Accuracy, safety and trust are critical in  high-risk sectors  such as healthcare, justice, education, employment and publ

What is happening — and why it matters now Sign language AI is moving quickly from research labs into public-facing products : avatars, automated translations, podcasts, and social media content. At the same time, Deaf academics, creators, and advocates are raising serious concerns about linguistic rights, data ethics, and representation . This report brings together all the latest links, discussions, and research shaping the debate right now. 1. AI avatars and Deaf represen