In the digital age, the Internet has become an essential tool for communication, education, and commerce. However, for many blind and visually impaired internet users, navigating the online world has traditionally been a challenge. Many rely on AI-powered screen readers and other assistive technologies to access the web. Unfortunately, many of these AI tools are riddled with errors, creating frustration and confusion for the very people they were supposed to help.

Manisha Chaturvedi is a virtual customer support agent in an MNC who relies on screen reader software to navigate her work environment. Recently, she encountered an AI-powered image description tool that labeled a picture of a conference room as a "bathroom with a podium". This not only amused her but also highlighted the potential dangers of inaccurate descriptions. "Imagine trying to find your way around a new office building based on such misleading information," she says.

These errors can have serious consequences. Manisha's experience isn't unique. The problem lies in the way AI systems are trained. Often, they rely on massive datasets of images and captions that may contain errors themselves. Additionally, these datasets might not be inclusive of diverse scenarios, leading to misinterpretations. For instance, an AI trained primarily on pictures of business meetings might struggle to identify a casual gathering at a coffee shop.

To truly address this issue, tech companies must take a nuanced approach to AI accessibility tools. To do so, they need to create a combination of human expertise and well-curated training data to improve accuracy. They can't do this alone. Blind users themselves can play a crucial role in this process, by providing feedback and flagging errors.

The dream of a truly accessible internet for all is still alive. But for now, blind and visually impaired users are left grappling with imperfect AI assistants. Their experiences serve as a reminder that technological advancements while promising, need to be carefully vetted and improved to ensure they truly empower, not hinder, the individuals they aim to assist.

(Note: India accounts for around 20% of the global blind population. Project Eyeway is an initiative by Score Foundation that acts as a one-stop knowledge resource for those people who are living their lives with blindness. Eyeway operates a national toll-free Helpdesk — 1800 53 20469.)