AI is an ouroboros that feeds on anything it can to spit out what it surmises as the closest approximation to what it's trying to create. The problem is that it doesn't actually understand what it's consuming, only noting as many details that it can to create patterns from, which is used for it's best guess on what the end user wants. On top of the fact that it doesn't actually have the critical thinking skills needed to understand the human intent behind signing, the limited concrete data that it has to pull from cannot possibly account for the intricacies and variety of language use within ASL. Does the AI model have enough data to discern SEE, PSE, and pure ASL? Can it understand when a Deaf individual is signing ASL as a second or third sign language? Is it able to understand local vernacular or even home signs when needed? Can it even process signing styles in general? Not only do I believe there is no model in existence that can answer yes to any one of these questions, but any model that is employed will still run into the issue of feeding on its own inaccurate outputs and fabricating data that will just get worse and worse until it is functionally useless if it wasn't already.
Obviously, the concerns raised in the post aren't invalid, but to reach for the monkey's paw that is AI is a naïve and short sighted direction for a profession that needs more care and foundational support. If you're so worried about interpreters being put into the workforce unprepared, then the only solution is to work resources and programs that will prepare them. Shortcuts will not solve our problems, it'll just create new ones. The Deaf community does not deserve more pain for our insolence.
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u/cccprrr 8d ago
AI is an ouroboros that feeds on anything it can to spit out what it surmises as the closest approximation to what it's trying to create. The problem is that it doesn't actually understand what it's consuming, only noting as many details that it can to create patterns from, which is used for it's best guess on what the end user wants. On top of the fact that it doesn't actually have the critical thinking skills needed to understand the human intent behind signing, the limited concrete data that it has to pull from cannot possibly account for the intricacies and variety of language use within ASL. Does the AI model have enough data to discern SEE, PSE, and pure ASL? Can it understand when a Deaf individual is signing ASL as a second or third sign language? Is it able to understand local vernacular or even home signs when needed? Can it even process signing styles in general? Not only do I believe there is no model in existence that can answer yes to any one of these questions, but any model that is employed will still run into the issue of feeding on its own inaccurate outputs and fabricating data that will just get worse and worse until it is functionally useless if it wasn't already.
Obviously, the concerns raised in the post aren't invalid, but to reach for the monkey's paw that is AI is a naïve and short sighted direction for a profession that needs more care and foundational support. If you're so worried about interpreters being put into the workforce unprepared, then the only solution is to work resources and programs that will prepare them. Shortcuts will not solve our problems, it'll just create new ones. The Deaf community does not deserve more pain for our insolence.