Partnership to develop AI-powered interfaces for people with disabilities

Partnership to develop AI-powered interfaces for people with disabilities | Insurance Business Australia

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Partnership to develop AI-powered interfaces for people with disabilities

How can AI help people with disabilities?

Allianz Trade has announced a partnership with Inclusive Brains, a French start-up focused on generative artificial intelligence (AI) and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), to create Prometheus—a new brain-machine interface. According to a news release, this technology aims to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities by allowing them to control digital environments and operate devices without using their hands or voice.

Prometheus is designed to translate neurophysiological data—such as brainwaves, heart activity, facial expressions, and eye movements—into mental commands. This technology holds promise for individuals who have lost mobility or the ability to speak, offering them a new way to engage with the world. It can potentially be used to control workstations, navigate digital environments, and operate connected objects, providing greater autonomy to those with physical limitations.

AI and neurotechnology for inclusivity

Inclusive Brains, founded in 2022 by neuroscientist Olivier Oullier and AI expert Paul Barbaste, developed Prometheus to help people who have lost mobility due to accidents or neurodegenerative diseases. The company’s mission is to improve inclusivity by combining generative AI with BCIs. “True inclusion means developing solutions that assist each and everyone of us, with no discrimination whatsoever,” said Oullier, CEO of Inclusive Brains.

Prometheus has already demonstrated its capabilities in usability tests, allowing users to control an exoskeleton arm through brain signals, facial expressions, or other neurophysiological cues. These tests were conducted with organizations supporting people with cognitive disabilities and paralysis.

Allianz Trade, through the partnership, brings resources to the Prometheus project, providing financial, strategic, and logistical support.

“We are proud to partner with Inclusive Brains to leverage AI and neurotechnology for positive social impact,” said Aylin Somersan Coqui, CEO of Allianz Trade. “Inclusion is a core value at Allianz Trade. We believe in the power of innovation to support it.”

Coqui noted Allianz Trade’s support will enable Inclusive Brains to advance the Prometheus BCI’s research and development, acquire physiological sensors, and provide exoskeleton arms to non-profit organizations supporting people with paralysis. Additionally, the company aims to make the Prometheus AI model open source, encouraging further development of assistive technologies.

Prometheus will be publicly demonstrated during the upcoming Olympic Torch Relay. A torch bearer with motor disability will use the technology to control an exoskeleton arm, showcasing the potential of AI-powered assistive technologies. The news release notes this event aims to raise awareness about the importance of supporting scientific and industrial efforts to improve inclusivity in the workplace and beyond.

Looking to the future

The partnership between Allianz Trade and Inclusive Brains is poised to create lasting impact by developing technologies that foster inclusion and accessibility. The collaboration also envisions other concrete use cases, such as mind-controlled keyboards and AI applications to improve workplace safety. “We are convinced that generative AI combined with cutting-edge neural interfaces will accelerate the integration of people with disabilities and benefit all individuals equally,” said Coqui.

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