Natively Adaptive Interfaces: A new framework for AI accessibility
Building Technology that Adapts to Everyone
We believe technology is at its best when it works for everyone. That's especially true when it comes to accessibility. For too long, people have had to adapt to technology — we want to build technology that adapts to them. This is the idea behind Natively Adaptive Interfaces (NAI), an approach that uses AI to make accessibility a product's default, not an afterthought.
The Problem with Traditional Accessibility
Traditional accessibility approaches often involve building separate, "bolted-on" features that cater to specific needs. These features are usually added as an afterthought, rather than being integrated into the product's design from the beginning. This can lead to a range of problems, including:
- Inconsistent user experiences: Features that are added as an afterthought can be inconsistent with the rest of the product, leading to a disjointed user experience.
- Limited accessibility: Traditional accessibility approaches often focus on a narrow range of needs, leaving out users with other types of disabilities.
- Lack of personalization: Features that are added as an afterthought are often not tailored to individual users' needs, leading to a one-size-fits-all approach.
How Natively Adaptive Interfaces Work
NAI takes a different approach. Instead of building accessibility features as a separate, "bolted-on" option, NAI bakes adaptability directly into a product's design from the beginning. This involves using AI to create personalized experiences that adapt to individual users' needs.
For example, an AI agent built with the NAI framework can help users accomplish tasks with their guidance and oversight, intelligently reconfiguring itself to deliver a more accessible, personalized experience. In our research of prototypes that helped to validate this framework, a main AI agent could be used to understand the user's overall goal and then work with smaller, specialized agents to handle specific tasks — like making a document more accessible by adjusting the UI and scaling text for a more personalized experience.
The Curb-Cut Effect
One of the benefits of NAI is that it often creates a "curb-cut effect," where a feature designed for a specific need ends up being helpful for everyone. For example, a voice-controlled app designed for someone with motor disabilities can also help a parent holding a child.
Building with and for People with Disabilities
The NAI framework is guided by the core principle: "Nothing about us, without us." Developers collaborate with the disability community throughout their design and development process, ensuring the solutions they create are both useful and usable. With support from Google.org, we're funding leading organizations that serve disability communities — like the Rochester Institute of Technology's National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID), The Arc of the United States, RNID and Team Gleason — to build adaptive AI tools for their communities that will solve real-world friction points.
Practical Applications
One example of a practical application of NAI is Grammar Lab, an AI-powered tutor developed by RIT/NTID English Lecturer Erin Finton and built with Gemini models. A collaborative effort between RIT/NTID engineers, students and Google, Grammar Lab transforms years of RIT/NTID and Erin's specialized curriculum into an adaptive tool that uses AI to create individualized multiple choice questions that center students' skills and language goals in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English.
Future Directions
We're excited by the innovative efforts being led by nonprofits and believe that by continuing to build in collaboration with the disability community, we can help make the world a more accessible place. As we move forward, we'll continue to explore new ways to apply NAI to real-world problems, and to develop new tools and technologies that can help make technology more accessible to everyone.
Conclusion
NAI represents a new approach to accessibility, one that prioritizes adaptability and personalization. By building technology that adapts to individual users' needs, we can create more inclusive and effective solutions that benefit everyone. As we continue to develop and refine NAI, we're excited to see the impact it will have on the world.
