Letter to the Editor: "How Can Biomedical Engineers Help Empower Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities? The Potential Benefits and Challenges of AI Technologies to Support Inclusivity and Transform Lives"

Alessandro Di Nuovo

doi:10.1109/JTEHM.2023.3331977

Letter to the Editor: "How Can Biomedical Engineers Help Empower Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities? The Potential Benefits and Challenges of AI Technologies to Support Inclusivity and Transform Lives"

IEEE J Transl Eng Health Med. 2023 Nov 9:12:256-257. doi: 10.1109/JTEHM.2023.3331977. eCollection 2024.

Author

Alessandro Di Nuovo^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of ComputingSheffield Hallam University S1 1WB Sheffield U.K.
² Advanced Wellbeing Research CentreSheffield Hallam University S1 1WB Sheffield U.K.

Abstract

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare and daily life, offering great opportunities but also posing ethical and societal challenges. To ensure AI benefits all individuals, including those with intellectual disabilities, the focus should be on adaptive technology that can adapt to the unique needs of the user. Biomedical engineers have an interdisciplinary background that helps them to lead multidisciplinary teams in the development of human-centered AI solutions. These solutions can personalize learning, enhance communication, and improve accessibility for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Furthermore, AI can aid in healthcare research, diagnostics, and therapy. The ethical use of AI in healthcare and the collaboration of AI with human expertise must be emphasized. Public funding for inclusive research is encouraged, promoting equity and economic growth while empowering those with intellectual disabilities in society.

Keywords: Human-centered innovation; devices for dignity; equity; ethical AI; healthcare technologies; inclusion; socially assistive robotics.

MeSH terms

Artificial Intelligence
Biomedical Engineering
Communication
Humans
Intellectual Disability* / diagnosis
Technology

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the U.K. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under Grant EP/W031809/1 (IMACTIVE) and Grant EP/W000741/1 (EMERGENCE).