How AI can bridge the Deaf and hearing worlds | Adam Munder

Summary

TED Talks Daily Episode Summary: "How AI Can Bridge the Deaf and Hearing Worlds" by Adam Munder

Introduction

In the January 7, 2025 episode of TED Talks Daily, hosted by Elise Hu, Adam Munder delivers a compelling presentation titled "How AI Can Bridge the Deaf and Hearing Worlds." As a deaf individual navigating both personal and professional spheres, Munder highlights the significant communication barriers faced by the deaf and hard of hearing community. Through his innovative work with AI, he presents a transformative solution aimed at fostering seamless interactions between deaf and hearing individuals.

The Challenge: Scarcity of Interpreters

Adam Munder opens his talk by illustrating the daily struggles encountered due to the limited availability of sign language interpreters. He shares a poignant personal anecdote:

"[00:55] Adam Munder: This was just one example of the two different worlds that I navigate in my personal life."

Munder recounts a recent experience at a doctor's appointment where he and his wife, both deaf, were denied access to an interpreter. Instead, they were forced to rely on their seven-year-old daughter to interpret medical information—a scenario that underscores the lack of accessible communication resources.

He elaborates on the broader issue:

"[03:10] Adam Munder: In Arizona, there are more than 1.1 million individuals with hearing loss and only about 400 licensed interpreters."
(04:15)

This stark disparity highlights the urgent need for scalable solutions to bridge the communication gap between the deaf and hearing communities.

Navigating Dual Worlds

Munder delves into his personal and professional life, emphasizing how he seamlessly transitions between interacting with hearing individuals in everyday tasks and relying on interpreters in his professional endeavors.

"[02:50] Adam Munder: I interact with hearing individuals every day. Yet still to this day I have to rely on a smartphone to text back and forth or write with paper and pen to the people I interact with."

Despite his professional success, Munder points out that the playing field is not level. His reliance on interpreters introduces dependency and limits spontaneity and nuance in communication.

Introducing OmniBridge: An AI-Powered Solution

Determined to address these challenges, Munder introduces OmniBridge, a platform developed by his team to leverage artificial intelligence in facilitating real-time communication between the deaf and hearing worlds.

"[05:30] Adam Munder: We're bringing the humanity back to these conversations by building a platform called OmniBridge."

OmniBridge utilizes AI to analyze thousands of signs in American Sign Language (ASL) and translate them into English. Recognizing the complexity of ASL, Munder emphasizes the importance of capturing nuances and body language to maintain the integrity of conversations.

Functionality and Accessibility

Munder explains how advancements in AI and computing power have enabled OmniBridge to operate locally without internet dependency, enhancing accessibility and reliability.

"[06:00] Adam Munder: With the advancement in compute on AI PCs, we're able to run our models locally without relying on the Internet, which dramatically increases accessibility."
(06:45)

This local processing capability minimizes lag and errors, providing a smoother and more accurate translation experience.

Impact and Vision

The ultimate goal of OmniBridge is to humanize and include the deaf community by leveling the playing field in both personal and professional interactions. Munder envisions a future where signed and spoken languages coexist seamlessly, fostering genuine and nuanced conversations.

"[06:30] Adam Munder: We're changing the world through the power of AI, not just revolutionizing technology, but enhancing that human connection."

Munder's vision extends beyond mere translation; he aims to preserve the emotional and contextual depth of conversations, ensuring that communication remains as rich and meaningful as possible.

Conclusion

Adam Munder concludes his talk by reiterating the transformative potential of AI in bridging societal divides. By addressing the scarcity of interpreters and leveraging technology to facilitate real-time, nuanced communication, Munder and his team are pioneering a future where the deaf and hearing worlds are more interconnected and equitable.

"[07:00] Adam Munder: Two languages, signed and spoken, and one seamless conversation. Thank you."

Final Thoughts

Adam Munder's presentation on TED Talks Daily offers a profound insight into the intersection of technology and accessibility. Through OmniBridge, he not only addresses a critical gap in communication but also champions the broader cause of inclusivity. His innovative approach serves as an inspiring example of how AI can be harnessed to create meaningful societal change.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "[00:55] Adam Munder: This was just one example of the two different worlds that I navigate in my personal life."

• "[03:10] Adam Munder: In Arizona, there are more than 1.1 million individuals with hearing loss and only about 400 licensed interpreters."

• "[02:50] Adam Munder: I interact with hearing individuals every day. Yet still to this day I have to rely on a smartphone to text back and forth or write with paper and pen to the people I interact with."

• "[05:30] Adam Munder: We're bringing the humanity back to these conversations by building a platform called OmniBridge."

• "[06:00] Adam Munder: With the advancement in compute on AI PCs, we're able to run our models locally without relying on the Internet, which dramatically increases accessibility."

• "[06:30] Adam Munder: We're changing the world through the power of AI, not just revolutionizing technology, but enhancing that human connection."

• "[07:00] Adam Munder: Two languages, signed and spoken, and one seamless conversation. Thank you."

Conclusion

Adam Munder's visionary work with OmniBridge exemplifies the profound impact that AI can have on bridging communication gaps. By addressing the scarcity of interpreters and enhancing the quality of interactions between the deaf and hearing communities, OmniBridge stands as a testament to the potential of technology to foster inclusivity and human connection.

Transcript

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[Elise Hu]

You're listening to TED Talks Daily, where we bring you new ideas to spark your curiosity every day. I'm your host, Elise Hu, Communication advocate. Adam Munder is deaf, so his experience of the world and even this very TED Talk is aided by interpreters. There's a scarcity, however, of interpreters everywhere, and it limits communication options for the deaf and hard of hearing. In his 2024 talk, he introduces one promising AI tool that can not only help us better communicate, but better connect to Adam gave the talk in American Sign Language. The voice you're hearing is his interpreter, Chris Hansen. They are coming up.

[Adam Munder]

Adam, wait. They need an interpreter now. I'm ready. Go Ahead. Oh, you guys need an interpreter. Thank you for briefly experiencing what it's like for me and millions of other deaf people worldwide when we don't have an interpreter and we need to order a coffee, check into a hotel, or complete other daily tasks. What I was trying to share with you was a frustrating experience that my wife and I recently had. My wife is also deaf and we took our daughter to a doctor's appointment. When we arrived, I'd asked for either an on site or a virtual interpreter. Unfortunately, they told me neither were available, so I had to write back and forth with the receptionist at the front desk. To make matters worse, when the doctor came into the room, he said, oh, it's all right, we'll just have your daughter interpret for you. So could you imagine going through the doctor's appointment and being told by the doctor that your 7 year old is going to relay the information to you? This was just one example of the two different worlds that I navigate in my personal life. I raise my kids, I manage rental properties, I flip buildings, and I'm working on a coffee roastery. In this world, I interact with hearing individuals every day. Teachers, lawyers, real estate agents, contractors. Yet still to this day I have to rely on a smartphone to text back and forth or write with paper and pen to the people I interact with. Then I have the professional world, where I have succeeded in part due to having two highly qualified interpreters. I have the same degrees, the same educational background, the same job responsibilities as my hearing peers. I solve the same engineering problems in a very competitive, fast paced environment. But the playing field isn't level. In all of my daily collaborations, all of my meetings and presentations, everything hinges on my interpreters. I am very fortunate though my employer ensures that I have access to the same information that my hearing co op colleagues do. Unfortunately, this is not true for many deaf throughout the world. Interpreters are very expensive and scarce. Where I live in Arizona, there are more than 1.1 million interactions, individuals with a hearing loss and only about 400 licensed interpreters. So there's scarcity of tools available for us and our communication options are very limited. This puts us in a survival mode, forcing us to use the resources that are at our disposal. Writing back and forth on paper and pen or using a smartphone to text is not equivalent to American Sign Language. The details and nuance that make us human are lost in both our personal and business conversations. So we're bringing the humanity back to these conversations. I've done that by building a platform called OmniBridge, so my team has established this bridge between the deaf world and the hearing world, bringing these worlds together without forcing one to adapt to the other. So we're using the power of AI to analyze thousands of signs in ASL and translate them into English. Now, thousands may seem small, but ASL is very complex. With slight nuance and changes in body language, it can change the meaning of a sign. Today, with the advancement in compute on AI PCs, we're able to run our models locally without relying on the Internet, which dramatically increases accessibility. With this, there's much less confusion and frustration. So we're changing the world through the power of AI, not just revolutionizing technology, but enhancing that human connection. My team is focused on using the AI PC and the power of AI to humanize and include to really, truly level the playing field. Two languages, signed and spoken, and one seamless conversation. Thank you.

[Elise Hu]

That was Adam Munder at TED Next 2024. This talk was made in partnership with Intel. If you're curious about Ted's curation, find out [e-mail] curationguidelines and that's it for today. TED Talks Daily is part of the TED Audio Collective. This episode was produced and edited by our team, Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Greene, Autumn Thompson and Alejandra Salazar. It was mixed by Christopher Faizy Bogan. Additional support from Emma Topner and Daniella Valarezo. I'm Elise Hu. I'll be back tomorrow with a fresh idea for your feet. Thanks for listening.

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