Enough #2: Research
Pond Well
Found it! is an occasional blog series by ArtsPond Founder, Jessa Agilo. This article explores some of the creative opportunities and drawbacks of using artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen the accessibility of our communications.
Do you create content in multiple languages? Have you considered offering plain language versions for each? This has been on my mind for the past year. Making communications truly accessible is essential, but it can feel like an overwhelming task when resources are limited. Thankfully, tools like Generative AI and machine translation are making this kind of effort more achievable. Yet, at what cost to the environment and more?
Accessible communications
This year, we committed to making all of our communications more accessible. A key first step is working on fluent and plain language content in both English and French for our revamped website currently in development. I have been gradually honing a plain language writing style, but simplifying complex ideas takes time, care, and focus. For a small team like ours, that can be challenging.
Benefits of machine translation and AI
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT have become invaluable for adapting content quickly and effectively. They can translate Fluent to Plain language with impressive human-like quality. These tools are helping us achieve our goals without overstretching our capacity or budget.
Machine translation tools (such as DeepL, Microsoft Translator, and Google Translate) are also opening new doors. They can convert Plain English into many of the 400+ languages spoken in Canada. Recent advancements, like the addition of Inuktitut to Google Translate, show how these tools can support linguistic diversity and access with underrepresented communities. Large Language Models (LLMs) are also pushing these tools even further, capturing nuances like tone and cultural context. This allows for meaningful machine translations that do more than replace words; they connect people.
For organizations like ours, these technologies hold great promise. Generative AI supports the timely and accessible translation of complex topics into plain language, while machine translation expands multilingual communications. Together, they help us engage with diverse communities in ways that are culturally relevant and inclusive.
Impacts of AI
But there are serious ethical and environmental challenges too.
From an environmental perspective, each AI query leaves a carbon footprint and consumes and pollutes air, land, water, and energy that contribute to the global climate crisis.
From an ethical point of view, the threat of technofacism among large platforms is increasingly becoming real. Additionally, every time we share our content to be translated by machines, we are losing agency and power over our own intellectual property and feeding the greedy mouths of developers that are looking for free content to extend the capabilities of their LLMs.
At ArtsPond, we only provide our own content to these platforms, not that of others that we work with, but it is still a risk that we are feeding unethical and cruel platforms with the knowledge they need to subvert access to justice and care in diverse communities. While I am concerned about this impact, the urgent need to improve access with disabled and other justice-deserving communities takes priority for now. AI helps us bridge gaps and create opportunities, but we need more research to understand and balance its social and environmental impact.
Making access important
As a disabled person, I rely on these tools to do what I could not achieve alone. Without AI, these commitments to accessibility and care would require a far larger team and budget. While this approach is not perfect, it reflects our belief in the importance of access and care for all.
Stay tuned! In future posts, I will share concrete examples of the practices and tools we have been using to transform our communications. For now, below is an example of fluent language content I wrote in about 20 minutes compared to a plain language translation created in seconds by Generative AI. How do they read for you? What is lost or gained in translation?
Sample translation
Before: Fluent language (human)
We empower ingenuity in virtual life by strengthening the responsible use of digital technology and infrastructure with gig workers and other low-income groups locally and globally. Creativity and innovation in virtual spaces is essential for breaking down barriers to artistic and cultural opportunities. While it is important to address the harmful aspects of new technologies like artificial intelligence, these tools also have the potential to help strengthen economic independence, enhance social inclusion, and stimulate innovative thinking, creating a thriving community where everyone benefits from the digital economy. We seek to cultivate environments where the ethical and responsible use of digital technology and infrastructure flourishes. Guided by arts and culture, we focus on human-centered collaborations with gig workers and low-income groups across Canada and globally. Our approach includes advocating for digital practices that protect privacy, promote fairness, and benefit all members of society. We will co-create essential tools and training to bridge skill gaps, enhance digital access, address ethical concerns, and cultivate global connections. These efforts are crucial for building an inclusive and caring society, celebrating diversity, and championing equitable growth.
After: Plain language (machine)
We support the creative and responsible use of digital technology to help gig workers and low-income groups locally and globally. When used fairly, technology can break barriers to artistic and cultural opportunities, promote inclusion, and support financial independence. While tools like artificial intelligence have risks, they also offer opportunities to benefit everyone in the digital economy. We work with gig workers and low-income communities to promote fairness, protect privacy, and ensure technology is used in ways that help society. Through arts and culture, we create tools, training, and connections to improve digital access, close skill gaps, and address challenges. These efforts build a caring and inclusive society where everyone has the chance to thrive.
