Forum: Singapore’s AI efforts must not exclude persons with disabilities

In Budget 2026, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong elaborated on the Government’s plans and investments to address the emergence of artificial intelligence. These include plans to establish a National AI Council, and the expansion of financial assistance such as the Productivity Solutions Grant to help more small and medium-sized enterprises adopt AI-enabled solutions.

Similar to the emergence of previous technologies, AI presents opportunities for innovation and enhancing livelihoods. However, without proper regulations, similar to the emergence of previous technologies, AI can also serve to widen the digital divide and heighten inequality.

Persons with disabilities are familiar with this as most of us have frequently encountered the introduction of new technologies that were not designed with accessibility or with disabled realities in consideration from the get-go – often resulting in exclusion from spaces that use such inaccessible technologies.

Examples of this include updates to mobile applications and websites that did not consider screen-reading technology, leading to the exclusion of screen reader users with disabilities.

Based on research in other countries, AI is no exception to such risks. Studies have shown that AI, like other technologies, can reinforce discrimination and exclusion.

For instance, many AI algorithms and tools are developed by being trained via pattern recognition and arrive at determinations based on typical or common patterns within datasets. Yet, due to barriers in our societies, persons with disabilities and disabled realities are often under-represented or excluded from spaces and organisations that contribute to the data and information that AI is trained on.

Treating the emergence of AI seriously is important. Yet, the goals of doing so must include focusing on the social impact of AI – whether it be on historically marginalised populations, or environmental factors such as the climate itself.

Max W.E. Soh
Research and Policy Manager
Disabled People’s Association Singapore