March 17th, 2025

AI represents a powerful accessibility tool for both virtual and physical environments, but there are many questions on how to best use it. Join us for an engaging discussion on the role of AI in enhancing accessibility. First, our featured speakers Yuhang Zhao, Andy Slater, and Thomas Logan will showcase a few AI-powered systems and their applications in real-world and virtual environments; then you, our community, will have the chance to brainstorm new uses and best practices for the future.

Open Questions:

  • How can we prepare AIs to act as guides in physical spaces?
  • What are the best form factors for AI guides?
  • How do we address privacy concerns with AI systems?
  • How can we effectively communicate an AI guide’s capabilities?
  • What role should AI agents play in moderating and ensuring safety in virtual spaces?

If you require accessibility accommodations such as American Sign Language interpretation, please email info@xraccess.org no fewer than 72 hours before the event.

Event Details

Date: Monday, March 17th

Time: 12:30 – 2pm PT / 3:30 – 5pm ET

Location: Zoom

About the Speakers

Headshot of Yuhang Zhao, an Asian woman with medium black and brown hair, wearing thin gold octagonal glasses and a diamond-shaped earring.

Yuhang Zhao

Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison

I am an Assistant Professor in Computer Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My research interests include Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), accessibility, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), and AI-powered interactive systems. I design and build intelligent interactive systems to enhance human abilities. Via my research, I seek to understand the challenges and needs of people with diverse abilities, and design systems and interaction techniques to empower them in real life activities as well as the emerging virtual worlds.

Andy, a middle aged white man smiles as wide as he can , shutting his eyes as if someone off camera is trying very hard to make him laugh. , . He has a full beard that is mostly gray with streaks and spots of red. . Hiss hair is short and reddish brown with a forehead a mile wide. . He's wearing a teal cardigan over a comprehensive patterned shirt. According to AI, the background is a soft, solid green color, enhancing the overall cheerful and pleasant vibe of the photo.

Andy Slater

Artist and researcher, Virtual Access Lab

Andy Slater is a blind media artist and educator. He holds a Masters in Sound Arts and Industries from Northwestern University and BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. andy is access lead and sound designer at Fair Worlds And a 2022-23 Leonardo Crip Tech fellow.

Headshot of Thomas Logan, a white man with stubble and a short mustache wearing a grey suit jacket over a buttoned blue shirt.

Thomas Logan

Owner, Equal Entry

For 20 years, Thomas Logan has helped organizations create technology solutions that work for people with disabilities. Over his career, he has worked with startups to Fortune 500s including Microsoft, Google, Meta, Bank of America, New York Times, Princeton University, and Disney. He has also done projects for many federal, state, and local government agencies in the U.S.