• AI technologies like live transcription and translation are significantly improving accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
• Experts emphasize the importance of a 'trust but verify' approach to AI, advocating for manual testing and the inclusion of people with disabilities in design processes.
• AI has the potential to assist developers in creating more accessible products by identifying overlooked elements but should not replace human oversight.

Government Technology reports on the increasing use of AI to improve government accessibility. State CIOs and accessibility officers are discovering unexpected benefits of AI in assisting individuals with disabilities. AI-powered tools such as live transcription and translation have become significantly more effective, and AI can also assist software developers in creating more accessible products. However, experts caution against relying solely on AI and emphasize the need for manual testing and inclusion of people with disabilities throughout the design and development process.

• What: AI is being used to improve government accessibility through tools like live transcription, translation, and automated accessibility testing for software development.
• Who: Key individuals include Jay Wyant (Minnesota Chief Information Accessibility Officer), David Edinger (Colorado CIO), and Marie Cohan (Texas Department of Information Resources). Organizations involved include state governments and technology vendors.
• When: The advancements in AI accessibility have been particularly noticeable since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The article was published May 08, 2025.
• Where: The focus is on state governments in the United States, with specific examples from Minnesota, Colorado and Texas.

The article provides a balanced view of AI's role in government accessibility. While AI offers significant potential to enhance accessibility through tools like live transcription and automated testing, experts caution against over-reliance. The emphasis on manual testing and the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the design process underscores the importance of human oversight to prevent biases and ensure effective and inclusive solutions. The 'trust but verify' approach is crucial for responsible AI implementation.

Folks with some kind of disability, particularly sight-type disabilities, were saying it was transformational in terms of how it was impacting their lives and their ability to work productively.

We can't rely on AI 100 percent. It's really critical that we include people with disabilities first and foremost into design, development, testing, remediation.

Especially if you use it at the moment because you have no idea what the bias is from the people who develop that tool.

AI is playing an increasingly important role in improving government accessibility for individuals with disabilities. While AI-powered tools offer significant benefits, experts emphasize the need for a balanced approach that combines AI with manual testing and human oversight. The inclusion of people with disabilities in the design and development process is crucial to ensure that AI solutions are effective, inclusive, and free from bias. The future of AI in accessibility hinges on a 'trust but verify' approach.