HeardAI Making Voice Activated Artificial Intelligence Accessible

Author: Michigan State University
Published: 2024/02/05 - Updated: 2025/02/22
Publication Type: Informative
Peer-Reviewed: Yes
Topic: Electronics and Software - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: HeardAI has advanced to Phase 2 of National Science Foundation's Convergence Accelerator program to make voice-activated AI accessible and fair to people who stutter.

Why it matters: This report discusses HeardAI, a collaborative project involving Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, and the nonprofit organization Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter. The initiative has progressed to Phase 2 of the National Science Foundation's Convergence Accelerator program, securing a $5 million grant to enhance voice-activated artificial intelligence (AI) systems for individuals who stutter. By developing accessible voice AI solutions, including compliance guidelines, evaluation tools, and user-friendly applications, HeardAI aims to make voice-activated technologies more inclusive and equitable for the over 80 million people worldwide who stutter. This advancement holds significant promise for improving accessibility in increasingly voice-mediated digital environments - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

As artificial intelligence technology advances, one area lags behind: voice-activated AI. For the more than 80 million people who stutter, voice AI technologies, which are increasingly being used in job hiring practices, can still be impossible to navigate.

Main Item

HeardAI, a multidisciplinary project from Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, and the nonprofit Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter, has advanced to Phase 2 of the National Science Foundation's Convergence Accelerator program to address this challenge. This advancement comes with a $5 million award to continue their work to make voice-activated AI accessible and fair to people who stutter.

Nihar Mahapatra is an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at MSU's College of Engineering.

"We are grateful for being selected for Phase 2, a milestone that validates the hard work of our multidisciplinary team," said Nihar Mahapatra, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at MSU and the project's principal investigator.

"This phase provides us an exciting opportunity to refine and develop sustainable and impactful accessible voice AI solutions for people who stutter, advancing inclusion in an increasingly voice-mediated digital world."

HeardAI's goal is to transform voice AI technology accessibility for people who stutter, then eventually benefit all users. Their goal is to offer accessibility guidance for compliance checking, a realistic stuttered speech testbed for product evaluation, an app and an application programming interface to make voice-activated products and services accessible.

At the end of Phase 2, HeardAI is expected by the NSF to provide high-impact deliverables that will be sustainable beyond their support.

The multidisciplinary team consists of MSU's Nihar Mahapatra from the College of Engineering; Ann Marie Ryan from the Department of Psychology; J. Scott Yaruss from the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders; as well as Hope Gerlach-Houck from Western Michigan Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; and Caryn Herring, the executive director of Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter.

"From the start, it's been really important to our team that individuals who stutter have a voice in this project," said Herring.

"We have been working hand -in hand with people who stutter to ensure that we can best serve the stuttering community and make AI more accessible. Beyond the obvious excitement to be able to continue working on this project, being awarded this NSF award sends a message to people who stutter that our voices matter and we deserve to be heard."

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note:

The growing reliance on voice-activated AI highlights the need for inclusive design, and HeardAI is a step in the right direction. While major tech companies continue refining their speech recognition software, many still fail to accommodate speech differences, leaving millions of people struggling with everyday interactions. This initiative not only addresses a critical gap but also sets an example for future innovation in accessibility. The true test will be whether mainstream companies adopt these advancements, ensuring that voice technology works for everyone, not just those with typical speech patterns

- Disabled World (DW).

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Michigan State University and published on 2024/02/05, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, Michigan State University can be contacted at msu.edu NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

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Citing and References

Founded in 2004, Disabled World (DW) is a leading resource on disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility, supporting the disability community. Learn more on our About Us page.

Cite This Page: Michigan State University. (2024, February 5 - Last revised: 2025, February 22). HeardAI Making Voice Activated Artificial Intelligence Accessible. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved March 20, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/computer/heardai.php

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