The Juan XXIII Foundation entity, which has been working for more than 55 years for the social and labor inclusion of people in a situation or risk of psychosocial vulnerability, especially with intellectual disabilities and/or mental illness, launches the ‘Inclusive Artificial Intelligence’ campaign, on the occasion of the International Day of People with Disabilities, which is celebrated on December 3.
Active until December 28, this is a campaign that invites us to reflect on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the representation of diversity and the need for truly inclusive technology. This is an especially relevant initiative now that AI is in full development, still defining the algorithmic models, rules, uses and perspectives that will shape this tool, which must be increasingly inclusive.
It should be noted that inclusive AI does not point out artificial intelligence as a problem nor does it seek to confront it, but quite the opposite: it recognizes its enormous potential and defends that its evolution must incorporate diversity in all its forms. Thus, the initiative shows that, if this technology is more inclusive, it not only benefits people with disabilities, but the entire society, expanding possibilities, reducing biases and more faithfully reflecting reality. Truly inclusive AI contributes to building more fair and representative environments.
The central pieces of the campaign are a video and four graphics constructed from neutral and common “prompts” that do not specify physical traits or abilities, for example: “Create an image of a girl partying at her house.” However, many current generative AI tools tend to offer homogeneous results that are not representative of real social diversity. The four graphs and the video show precisely that: the result of a genuinely inclusive AI, capable of integrating diversity naturally, without having to explicitly request it.
Fairer and more inclusive society
One more year, through this campaign designed for the International Day of People with Disabilities, Fundación Juan XXIII takes a step forward in its mission to create a more just and inclusive society, not only making people with intellectual disabilities visible, but also transforming the social perception of them.
The campaign not only makes people with intellectual disabilities visible, but also transforms social perception about them.
Nuria Prieto, Head of Communication at the Juan XXIII Foundation, states: “With this campaign we do not intend to question this technology, but rather to remember that all the tools we build, including AI, must incorporate diversity naturally. There is no need to choose between innovation and inclusion; both must walk together and we all have a relevant role to ensure that artificial intelligence is truly inclusive and reflects real society, not a limited version of it. Because betting on a more inclusive AI is betting on a fairer future.”
On the other hand, on the occasion of the International Day of People with Disabilities, on December 3, the Foundation will also be present at “Deputies for a day”, the Plena Inclusion Madrid initiative that celebrates its 16th edition by bringing the voice of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities to the Madrid Assembly. A member of Juan Senior will participate from the Juan XXIII Foundation, who will ask a question about the aging of people with intellectual disabilities.
