[MD-Sligo] FW: [tech-vi Announce List] Microsoft To Use ChatGPT To Provide Virtual Technical Support To Blind Customers

[terrypowers59 at gmail.com]

From: tech-vi at groups.io <tech-vi at groups.io> On Behalf Of David Goldfield
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 1:16 PM
To: List <tech-vi at groups.io>
Subject: [tech-vi Announce List] Microsoft To Use ChatGPT To Provide Virtual Technical Support To Blind Customers

 


https://www.forbes.com/sites/gusalexiou/2023/05/23/microsoft-to-use-chatgpt-to-provide-virtual-technical-support-to-blind-customers/?sh=22fcd38a6e5b


Microsoft To Use ChatGPT To Provide Virtual Technical Support To Blind Customers


 <https://www.forbes.com/sites/gusalexiou/> Gus AlexiouMay 23, 2023,

  <https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/646c28652721a6b146b502f7/OpenAI---ChatGPT---Illustration/960x0.jpg?format=jpg&width=960> 

OpenAI logo seen on screen with ChatGPT website [+]NurPhoto via Getty Images 

In a  <https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2023/05/18/global-accessibility-awareness-day-generative-ai/> blog post published last week to mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Microsoft’s Chief Accessibility Officer Jenny Lay-Flurrie talked enthusiastically about the promise generative Ai holds for delivering a new paradigm in technical support for blind users.

Since 2018, the tech giant has partnered with leading virtual sighted assistance provider BeMyEyes to process technical support tickets for visually impaired customers contacting its Disability Answer Desk. Users with sight restrictions can connect with Microsoft’s technical support team via video call to receive visual interpretation services related to troubleshooting technical issues such as a laptop requiring a reboot or the installation of software updates.

Now, powered by OpenAI’s super-advanced generative AI chatbot ChatGPT 4, users will be able to accomplish the same using Ai rather than direct one-to-one human communication.

The novel Ai interaction will operate through the user feeding images through the BeMyEyes app which can then be analyzed by ChatGPT to identify objects and images as well as decipher text. What sets ChatGPT apart from other image description services is its ability to sustain a back-and-forth human-like conversation with the user and answer questions directly as well as provide contextual feedback and advice.

This may include whether a user’s hardware meets the specifications for certain software and how to optimize the set-up based on individual user preferences.

The new service is known as Virtual Volunteer and accompanying Microsoft on the corporate beta test program are the likes of Hilton, P&G, Sony, and The National Federation of the Blind.

Commenting on the initiative in her blog post, Lay-Flurry said:

“Over the past few months, the world has been captivated by the promise of generative AI. Accessibility is important to deliver inclusive products and is a key part of the  <https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2023/05/01/responsible-ai-standards-principles-governance-progress/> Responsible AI principles. Responsible AI is accessible AI. To keep accessibility at the heart of generative AI, we have three grounding principles: AI should be accessible, representative of people with disabilities and innovate to open doors. Great to see examples of where generative AI can change paradigms for disabled people. Starting with BeMyEyes.”

For visual interpretation services in particular, there is not just a shift in technological paradigm at play but a psychological one too.

On the face of it, sighted individuals may consider Ai assistance to be a downgrade from that of humans. After all, generative Ai tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT may be evolving at an explosive rate but are certainly not on a par with the interpersonal skills of human beings or our abilities to detect subtleties and nuance.

Nevertheless, while sighted human assistance, be it direct or virtual, from friends and family or service providers, certainly has its place – there is a great deal to be said of for automated solutions too.

The former smacks of dependency on others which carries with it certain connotations whilst the latter just sounds like another piece of assistive tech in the toolbox for getting the job done independently and there’s a great deal to be said for that!

Follow me on  <https://www.linkedin.com/in/gus-alexiou-0bb07460/?originalSubdomain=uk> LinkedIn.  

I am a journalist specializing in issues affecting people living with physical disabilities. My interest

... 

 

     David Goldfield 

Assistive Technology Specialist

 

 

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