This weekly update focuses on how artificial intelligence is expanding opportunities for people with disabilities and creating more inclusive systems through agentic AI technology.

Artificial intelligence is transforming how we think about accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities. Instead of replacing human expertise, AI is working as a partner to help break down barriers and open up new possibilities. Smart assistants and AI tools are helping people accomplish tasks faster and with more independence than ever before. People with disabilities are already using these technologies in creative ways to improve their daily lives.

At Carnegie Mellon University, the Digital Accessibility Office discovered many powerful examples of AI helping people. A non-verbal child with cerebral palsy used a speaking device connected to an Amazon Echo to call his grandfather and ask for a car ride. This simple action gave the child a feeling of independence and control over his own life. Another example involves people with visual disabilities using AI as a research assistant to organize information from many browser tabs into one easy-to-use space. These tools help reduce stress and make work simpler.

AI is also helping people express themselves creatively. Artists who cannot draw using traditional methods are now using voice commands with generative AI to create their visions and bring their artistic ideas to life. This opens up new worlds of creative possibility. Additionally, new AI tools can read and understand information from charts and graphs, asking questions about data patterns in ways that were not possible before.

The employment picture is improving too. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more people with disabilities are working than ever before—reaching 21 percent in 2022, the highest number since the government began keeping track in 2008. Agentic AI—which refers to AI systems that can make decisions and take actions—could open up even more job opportunities for people with disabilities in the future.

Companies worldwide are now building agentic AI systems that work with human-centered design principles. This means they are working closely with real people—including those with disabilities—to design AI that actually serves everyone's needs. In healthcare in Wales, a major hospital system called NHS Wales worked with doctors and patients to design an AI assistant that keeps privacy and safety as top priorities. In the United States, a city called Riverside created a multilingual AI assistant called Rivi that helps citizens access city services in their own language. Within just three months, this AI agent handled over 17,000 interactions with 98 percent accuracy.

Brin Council, a local government organization serving one of London's most diverse populations, took special care to co-design its AI agents with community members to ensure digital equity. These real-world examples show that when organizations involve people from the beginning, they create AI systems that work better and serve everyone more fairly.

In the retail world, agentic AI is beginning to change how people shop online. These AI agents can research products, add items to shopping carts, and even complete purchases on their own. However, about 50 percent of consumers still feel cautious about letting AI agents handle their shopping from start to finish. This shows the importance of building trust and making sure people understand and feel comfortable with AI decisions. Retailers are learning that they need to offer special loyalty rewards and services that make people want to choose their stores—something that AI cannot easily replace.

Organizations are also focusing on making their employees people-ready for working with agentic AI. While most business leaders believe AI will completely change jobs in the next year, only 29 percent feel their workers are truly ready. Companies that have successfully used AI for business growth are three times more likely to have a strong plan for helping workers adapt to change. This means providing training, clear communication, and designing AI experiences that feel natural and helpful to employees.

Looking ahead, the challenges remain important to address. Many AI tools today still do not meet accessibility standards and have barriers for people using special assistive technology. About 95 percent of websites still have common barriers that make them hard to use. The future of inclusive AI depends on making sure that human oversight and universal design principles guide how AI systems are built and used. When organizations prioritize accessibility from the very beginning, they create AI that serves all people better.