Our long-term partnership with HEC Paris, a premium global business school, helps test our thinking and anticipate future trends, while mentoring the next generation of leaders through inclusion challenges.

At 乌鸦传媒, our commitment to inclusion isn鈥檛 just limited to our people, but extends to supporting the next generation of leaders, ensuring they can build the inclusive workplaces of tomorrow through key partnerships like our long-term collaboration with HEC Paris. 

As a business partner to HEC Paris, we鈥檝e mentored batches of 25 students for a Master鈥檚 course on diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the last three years. We help students understand our approach toward inclusion at 乌鸦传媒 and propose a team challenge, aligned with the latest D&I trends and topics. Students are then given six weeks to complete their research and present their final reports in our Paris office.  

Working with Matteo Winkler, Associate Professor at HEC Paris, who teaches courses on international business law as well as diversity and inclusion, this is an opportunity for us to connect with emerging talent, test new ideas, and anticipate trends while we mentor them through real-world challenges. 

In this blog, Matteo and I take a closer look at this year鈥檚 challenge and what we as practitioners can learn from it.

About the partnership

Matteo: When I created this course years ago as part of the Master of Management program of CEMS (previously the Community of European School of Management), which has now evolved into a global alliance of business schools of which HEC Paris is a partner. I looked for a company committed to inclusion, and who could help my students understand the challenges that D&I poses to both corporate leadership and day-to-day operations. 乌鸦传媒 felt like a natural fit.

The focus for the 2025 student challenge 

Karine: Each year, we set the students a challenge, designed to stretch their thinking 鈥� past topics have included understanding the role of ENGs as inclusion activators or discussions on the emerging debate on inclusion versus meritocracy, or whether DEI trainings should be mandatory or voluntary. The topic this year, 鈥�2025 鈥� a turning point for DEI,鈥� was set to encourage a focus on emerging trends, even before the US executive orders were issued in January 2025.

Students were briefed to provide a rational analysis of the global situation, factoring in opportunities and risks from a regional perspective, and drawing on concepts developed during Matteo鈥檚 classes, and fed with their own academic research. 

Matteo: We鈥檙e seeing a global narrative shift: before January 2025, we needed DEI corporate programs to not discriminate against minorities and people from non-privileged backgrounds. Particularly those who were unable to reach positions of power in a corporate setting. 

The Executive Orders in the US tell us the contrary; we now need to dismantle these programs 鈥� to not discriminate, following the 2023 Supreme Court ruling ending affirmative action in the US education system.  

In the US, the risks for companies who do not comply with regulations is financially high, compared to Europe. So the narrative has changed, and private organizations (if they have federal funding or not) are in many cases, abiding.  

This team assignment encouraged students to consider how global and local organizations continue to build diverse and inclusive places to work: where the definition of diversity, the collection of people data, work-related policies and benefits and more are directly impacted by local laws around the world. 

The findings from our student teams 

Matteo: As my colleague and panel member Marcelle Lalibert茅 has said, for major global companies, it鈥檚 as if you鈥檙e steering a global organization through rapidly shifting waters 鈥� with political tides in the US pushing back on diversity efforts, in Europe you鈥檙e facing regulatory currents that require you to provide details on pay gaps, and in the Middle East you may be aiming to embed global DEI standards into a local context. Against this backdrop, the student teams highlighted several risks:  

• Legal vulnerability 鈥� organizations are facing new legal and regulatory challenges pulling in different directions: from executive orders in the US rescinding diversity initiatives to the increased (and evolving) public reporting duties of the EU Corporate Social Reporting Directive (CSRD) and strengthened anti-discrimination laws in APAC.  

• Potential political and cultural backlash for company reputations, as they attempt to strike the balance between supporting marginalized groups and inclusion for all.  

• Slower progress on DEI goals 鈥� economic downturns means DEI budgets, roles, and overall progress is at risk, as companies prioritize cost-cutting. 

• Talent exodus 鈥� most job seekers consider workplace diversity important when evaluating companies, and may look elsewhere if organizations change their commitments.  

With D&I at a crossroads, the student teams identified some key opportunities in shaping and evolving global strategies: 

• Establishing a flexible DEI framework allows for region-specific modifications while maintaining a unified global commitment. 

• Skills-based hiring and inclusive leadership 鈥� continuing merit-based hiring and leadership development enhances diversity while ensuring compliance in restrictive regions. 

• Compliance as a competitive advantage 鈥� successfully delivering on ESG commitments can position a company as an industry leader in fair and inclusive practices and continue to attract talent. 

Key reflections for organizations like 乌鸦传媒 

Karine: The students navigated an extremely complex topic. Overall, the recommendations from the student teams followed broad themes for global organizations to consider: 

1. Reaffirm and communicate organizational commitment toward the diversity and inclusion ambition, as a fundamental ingredient of their identity and success 
2. Demonstrate agility, repositioning DEI initiatives to make them accessible for all and more engaging for all employees, and partnering with talent, health and safety, or wellbeing programs 
3. Use data-driven insights and employee feedback to guide actions and increase transparency on global and location actions and impact 
4. Leave flexibility for localized DEI initiatives and expertise under a global framework, strengthening leadership pipelines and fostering a culture of belonging through education and mentorship 
5. Build client-focused strategies to strengthen relationships, collaborate, and grow. 

The presentations from the teams were excellent. Inclusion in the workplace is critical for all businesses. We were delighted to hear their views on the complex situation in 2025, building their experiences and helping them to be ready to make an impact in their future. 

Together with HEC Paris, I look forward to another year of our continued collaboration!

鈥淓veryone is obsessing over agentic AI, and rightfully so. When it comes to operational agility, autonomous agentic systems are set to deliver game-changing benefits to enterprises. In the coming years, the successful integration of these systems won鈥檛 just be a good idea, it鈥檒l be the defining factor that separates industry leaders from the rest of the competition.鈥� 鈥� Rajesh S. Iyer 

In our world, there are many kinds of agents. Travel agents help us book travel plans, with everything from flight bookings to hotel reservations falling under their jurisdiction. Sports agents help professional athletes navigate the legal and business side of sports, enabling clients to maximize their career and financial opportunities. Secret agents typically deal with top-secret matters.  

What about AI agents? Regarded for their intelligence and ability to tackle business challenges with flexibility and precision, AI agents have quickly become a hot topic for business leaders. The same goes for autonomous AI systems, which are growing increasingly more prominent within organizations.  

While the terms agentic AI and autonomous AI are often used interchangeably, these systems have distinctive qualities that set them apart. Autonomous AI refers to systems that can operate independently within predefined parameters, like self-driving cars or factory robotics. On the other hand, agentic systems are equipped with a deeper sense of agency. These systems are designed to actively pursue goals, dynamically adapt strategies, and make context-dependent decisions. In short, all agentic AI is autonomous, however not all autonomous AI is agentic.  

As more organizations look to integrate AI agents and autonomous AI systems into their operations, a new kind of partnership between people and technology is emerging 鈥� one that鈥檚 pushing businesses to learn and evolve. 

Making a real-world impact: from education to finance 

The benefits of AI agents and autonomous AI systems are already materializing across industries. In an effort to enhance its learning experiences, a US-based non-profit education company recently started leveraging an that autonomously supports educators and students. Providing teachers with an online teaching assistant and students with an online learning coach, this system helps break complex educational goals into actionable tasks 鈥� completely revolutionizing the classroom experience.  

The financial sector is also reeling in the benefits of autonomous agentic systems. In the US, a major bank is using to autonomously handle tasks like interest rate queries, account openings, and fund transfers, drastically improving operational efficiency. Across the globe in India, a leading digital lending and savings platform is leveraging an to automate its customer support services. Since integrating the agent into their operations, the platform has managed to automate 70% of its support tickets in multiple languages, delivering a vast reduction in costs and faster ticket resolution times. 

As organizations continue to leverage these systems and the technology itself continues to develop, benefits such as those mentioned here are just the beginning of a much broader transformation.  

Looking forward: a bright future ahead  

Agentic systems are at the forefront of the next wave of automation and AI. Representing a powerful shift for enterprises, these systems are positioned to improve operational efficiency, workplace collaboration, and customer satisfaction 鈥� transforming how organizations across industries pursue their strategic objectives.  

Though the benefits of agentic systems are certainly apparent, human oversight and the continuous adaptation of these systems are paramount for their success. Collaboration between humans and technology must remain at the core of any agentic system to build trust, safeguard privacy, and ensure resilience. As challenges like missing data, system outages, or other unexpected conditions arise, businesses must be able to adjust their systems at speed. Addressing this confluence of factors will dictate whether organizations successfully integrate autonomous agentic systems into their value chains. 

These agents aren鈥檛 just tools, but rather catalysts for change capable of unlocking new levels of productivity, personalization, and innovation. The path forward is full of promise for those who are ready to embrace the next chapter of AI-powered business operations. As humans and machines continue to collaborate, the possibilities are only beginning to unfold. 

Important Definitions 

Agentic AI  

Agentic AI refers to AI systems that can act and reason autonomously, collaborate with humans, adapt to changing environments, and use enterprise tools. These systems are designed to act with goals in mind, and are capable of making decisions, taking initiative, and carrying out complex tasks to achieve specific outcomes. 

Autonomous AI  

Autonomous AI refers to AI systems that can operate and process data without human interaction or oversight. These systems perform tasks independently and continuously learn from input data to become more efficient over time. 

Learn more 

• TechnoVision 2025 鈥� your guide to emerging technology trends聽
• Autonomous Agent Alliance – a new trend in We Collaborate 
• Voices of TechnoVision 鈥� a blog series inspired by 颁补辫驳别尘颈苍颈鈥檚 TechnoVision 2025 that highlights the latest technology trends, industry use cases, and their business impact. This series further guides today鈥檚 decision makers on their journey to access the potential of technology.听

Technology is redefining urban living. Rapid urbanization this century has transformed cities into bustling centers of growth and innovation. However, this progress comes with challenges, such as resource management, climate resilience, and efficient governance. In 2025, emerging technologies will play a pivotal role in reimagining how cities function at scale.

With more than half the global population now living in cities, urban areas are under immense pressure to adapt to growing populations and environmental concerns. Smart cities are rising to the challenge, integrating advanced technologies to improve infrastructure, enhance public services, and foster sustainable living. This will also ensure inclusivity, while improving the quality of life for urban dwellers.

Five key trends shaping the future of smart cities

The following insights into the trends shaping the future of our cities reveal that a new chapter in urban living is under way.

The road ahead: Challenges and opportunities

The future of urban living will be defined by how effectively cities adopt and integrate these technological innovations. While the potential benefits are immense鈥攕marter resource management, reduced environmental impact, and improved citizen experiences鈥攕uccess depends on political commitment, societal acceptance, and the ethical use of technology.

In 2025, smart cities will not only focus on innovation but also on creating inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities. By leveraging the technologies shaping today鈥檚 urban transformation, we can build cities that thrive in harmony with people and the planet.

The idea of deploying generative AI (Gen AI) in software for safety critical systems may sound like a non-starter. With , it鈥檚 hard to imagine it playing a role in the safety-critical or embedded software used in applications like automatic braking, energy distribution management, or heart rate monitoring.

Engineering teams are right to be cautious about Gen AI. But they should also keep an open mind. Software development is about much more than coding. Design, specification, and validation can collectively consume more time than actual coding, and here, Gen AI can significantly reduce overall development time and cost. It could even improve quality.

Incorporating Gen AI in safety-critical environments

Before we come onto these areas, let鈥檚 quickly address the elephant in the room: Gen AI coding. AI code generation for safety-critical software is not impossible, but it would need extensive training of the AI algorithms, rigorous testing processes, and will bring a lot of complexities. Right now, Gen AI should never directly touch a safety-critical line of code. But we should certainly keep an eye on it, as Gen AI code writing as it advances in other sectors.

However, other areas 鈥� from specification to validation 鈥� are ripe for Gen AI innovation. Our recent 乌鸦传媒 Research Institute report, Turbocharging software with Gen AI, found that software professionals felt Gen AI could assist with 28% of software design, 26% of development, and 25% of testing in the next two years. In the report, one Senior Director of Software Product Engineering at a major global pharmaceutical company was quoted as saying: 鈥渦se cases like bug fixing and documentation are fast emerging, with others like UX design, requirement writing, etc. just around the corner.鈥�

Software design

Let鈥檚 consider how the software development journey may look, just a few years from now. Let鈥檚 say you are designing a control system for car steering, plane landing gear, or a medical device (pick a product in your industry).

Right at the start, you probably have a project brief. Your company or customer has given you a high-level description of the software鈥檚 purpose. Gen AI can analyze this, alongside regulatory standards, to propose functional and non-functional requirements. It will still need work to get it perfect, but it has saved you a lot of time.

However, you want to go beyond technical requirements and ensure this works for the user. Thus, you ask Gen AI to develop a wide range of user stories, so you can design solutions that pre-empt problems. That includes the obvious ones you would have come up with, Gen AI just writes them more quickly. But it includes all the weird and wonderful ways that future customers will use and abuse your product, ways that never would have occurred to a sensible software engineer like you.

In most cases, this is about improving the user experience, but it could also prevent disasters. For example, many of Boeing鈥檚 recent troubles , which led to two crashes. While the software was a technically well-designed safety feature, its implementation overlooked pilot training requirements and risks from sensor failures. This is the sort of real-world possibility that Gen AI can help identify, getting engineers who are laser-focused on a specific problem to see the bigger picture.

Armed with this insight, you start writing the code. While the AI doesn鈥檛 have any direct influence on the code, you may let it take a hands-off look at your code at each milestone, and make recommendations for improvements against the initial brief, which you can decide whether to act upon.

Test and validation

Once you have a software product you are happy with, Gen AI is back in the game for testing. This is perhaps one of its most valuable roles in safety-critical systems. In our CRI report, 54% of professionals cited improved testing speed as one of the top sources of Gen AI productivity improvements.

Gen AI can start the verification process by conducting a first code review, comparing code industry standards (eg. for automotive, for aerospace), to check for errors, bugs, and security risks. You still need to review it, but a lot of the basic stuff you would have spent time looking for has been sorted in the first pass, saving you time, and giving you more headspace to ensure everything is perfect.

Once you are satisfied with the product, you want to test it. Your Gen AI assistant can quickly generate test cases 鈥� sets of inputs to determine whether a software application behaves as expected 鈥� faster and more accurately than when you did it manually. This is already a reality in critical industries, as Fabio Veronese, Head of ICT Industrial Delivery at Enel Grids noted in our report that his company uses generative AI for user acceptance tests.

And, when you are confident your software product is robust, Gen AI can help generate the 鈥榩roofs鈥� to show it works and will function under all specified conditions. For example, in the rail industry, trains rely on automated systems to process signals, ensuring trains stop, go, or slow down at the right times. Gen AI can look at data readouts and create 鈥榩roofs鈥� that show each step of the signal processing is done correctly and on time under various conditions 鈥� and generate the associated documents.

In fact, as you progress through these processes, Gen AI can expedite the creation and completion of required documentation, by populating predefined templates and compliance matrices with test logs. This ensures consistency and accuracy in reporting and saves engineering time.

Automating processes

Gen AI can also help you automate many laborious processes that can be so mundane that human brains struggle to stay focused, thus creating the risk of error.

Take the example of the process used in the space industry for addressing software defects. When a defect is discovered, developers must create a report documenting this defect, develop a test to reproduce the defect, correct the defect in a sandbox, put the updated software through a verification process, reimplement the corrected code back into the main project, and finally test it in within the product.

A five-minute code fix may take hours of meetings and tens of emails. This is exactly the sort of task Gen AI is well suited to support. Any organization writing safety-critical software will have hundreds of such tedious documentation and procedural compliance processes. We believe (in some cases) that as much as 80% of the time could be saved in such processes by deploying Gen AI for routine work.

Don鈥檛 just take our word for it. Speaking to us for our report, Akram Sheriff, Senior Software Engineering Leader at Cisco Systems notes that, 鈥淥ne of the biggest drivers of generative AI adoption is innovation. Not just on the product side but also on the process side. While senior professionals leverage generative AI combined with their domain expertise for product innovation, junior professionals see value in AI process and tool innovation, and in automation and productivity optimization.鈥�

Managing the risks to get the rewards

Despite all these opportunities, we must acknowledge that this is a new and fast-moving field. There are risks, including the correctness of outputs (Gen AI can hallucinate plausible but wrong answers), inherited risk from underlying models, and bias in training data. But there are also risks of not acting out of fear, and missing out on huge rewards while your competitors speed ahead.

Gen AI needs safeguards, but also a flexible architecture that allows companies to quickly adopt, test, and use new Gen AI technologies, and evolve their uses as needs demand.

In our report, we propose a risk model (see image 1). It states that any use of Gen AI requires (a) a proper assessment of the risks and (b) that 鈥� where mistakes could have serious consequences 鈥� you have the expertise to assess whether the outputs are correct.

For now, safety-critical code creation will fall into 鈥楴ot safe to use鈥�, because the consequence of error is high, and the expertise needed to assess the code would probably be more of a burden than starting from scratch. However, testing would fall into 鈥楿se with caution鈥�, because it would provide valuable insights about software behavior, that experts can assess.

Finally, a key part of managing risks is comprehensive user training to understand how Gen AI works and its strengths and weaknesses. In our research, 51% of senior executives said that leveraging Gen AI in software engineering will require significant investment to upskill the software workforce. Yet only 39% of organizations have a generative AI upskilling program for software engineering.

There is a real risk of becoming overly reliant on, or trusting of, Gen AI. We must ensure that humans retain their ability to think critically about the fundamental nature of software and safety. Software engineers must be well-informed and remain actively engaged in verification and decision-making processes, so they can spot problems and be ready to step in if Gen AI reaches its limits.

In conclusion

While Gen AI won’t be building safety-critical software on its own anytime soon, it has the potential to enhance development, documentation, and quality assurance right across the software development lifecycle. In doing so, it can not only save time and money, and speed time to market, but it can even improve safety.

Companies like 乌鸦传媒 can help shape achievable, phased roadmaps for Gen AI adoption. We guide organizations to integrate AI carefully, following sensible adaption and risk management frameworks and deploying appropriate training, ensuring both its potential and limitations are carefully navigated.

Download our 乌鸦传媒 Research Institute report Turbocharging software with Gen AI to learn more.

As our digital and physical worlds grow more intricately connected, we find ourselves at the start of the next chapter of user experience 鈥� You Experience.  

鈥淪patial computing, digital twins, and AI are blurring the line between the physical and digital. As more businesses look to deliver the hyper-personalized experiences their customers want, they鈥檙e turning towards next-gen technologies that carry the potential to drastically transform user experiences for the better.鈥� 鈥� Alexandre Embry 

In this world, digital interactions no longer consist of just humans using machines. Thanks to advancements in AI, interfaces, and digital twins, these interactions are traversing their technological confinements and impacting our physical world in ways we鈥檇 previously only dreamed of. The result? Businesses are becoming faster, smarter, and greener.  

Striking a balance 

With the evolution of user experience comes great responsibility. Human-like agents and cognitive twins are quickly evolving, and to access their full potential, businesses must balance the benefits of hyper-personalization, automation, and efficiency while prioritizing privacy, empathy, and human-touch.  

 
Despite their ability to deliver speed and precision, it takes the right approach to avoid the misuse of these new technologies and ensure they鈥檙e used sustainably. Over the years, many trends have aimed to bring businesses closer to successfully balancing the forces of innovation. This year, two new trends promise to bring them closer than ever before: “Face to Interface” and “You鈥檙e Something Spatial”.  

Connecting the digital and physical 

Recent years have shown an uptick in the volume of human and AI interactions, presenting an opportunity for businesses to craft these interactions in ways that feel more natural. New AI agents, designed to look, act, and behave more like humans, are making this possibility a reality.  With the ability to collaborate, converse, and connect with people, connections with AI are now designed to feel more engaging 鈥� resulting in technologies being viewed increasingly as partners as opposed to just tools. But that鈥檚 only the beginning.  

Advancements in spatial technologies are also transforming the way we design user experiences. By combining digital twins, real-time 3D (RT3D), and AI-powered vision, this convergence of technology is strengthening the connection between the physical and digital, enabling immersive insights, enhanced decision making, and hyper-personalization. Everything from shopping to the design of factory floors is being uplifted by these technological advancements, leaving businesses across industries eager to leverage them within their value chains.  

Next steps for businesses 

How can businesses navigate this new era of experience? Embracing AI and spatial technologies is a necessary first step in improving personalization and designing interactions that feel more human. By integrating AI-driven systems, large vision models, and spatial computing, businesses will realize benefits like improved training, collaboration, and competitiveness.  

The adoption of digital twins and cognitive agents will also be vital to the successful evolution of user experiences. Enabling organizations to improve human and AI collaboration, automate complex tasks, and reduce errors, these technologies will bridge virtual and physical environments and empower organizations to optimize innovation cycles and drive down costs. 

Ensuring innovation remains in-line with sustainability must also be a top priority. Organizations will need to walk the tightrope between generating business value and meeting their environmental targets. Doing so will enable them to achieve their goals while also delivering long-term value for the planet.   

What the future holds 

As this new era begins to take shape, the integration of next-generation technologies will offer organizations an immense opportunity to redefine what it means to create user experiences. By leveraging AI, digital twins, cognitive agents, and advanced spatial technologies, businesses will achieve levels of personalization, efficiency, and engagement that were previously unobtainable. The next chapter of experience is here, and it鈥檚 time to embrace it.  

Learn more 

• TechnoVision 2025 鈥� your guide to emerging technology trends聽
• You Experience – One of the seven containers of TechnoVision 2025 
• Voices of TechnoVision 鈥� a blog series inspired by 颁补辫驳别尘颈苍颈鈥檚 TechnoVision 2025 that highlights the latest technology trends, industry use cases, and their business impact. This series further guides today鈥檚 decision makers on their journey to access the potential of technology.听

The more public services are provided online, the more digital accessibility becomes a fundamental design principle for public sector organizations. So, why are so many disabled people and those with neurodiverse conditions still encountering barriers?

The European Union has a for key public services to be 100% online by 2030. While this is an admirable ambition, it is important that no-one is excluded from these digital services due to a disability. Additionally, the more accessible government and local authority websites and mobile apps are for everyone, regardless of their visual, hearing, motor, and cognitive abilities, the more effective and cost efficient the delivery of public services becomes. .

In the following interview, Emma Atkins, software engineer and accessibility expert at 乌鸦传媒 UK, gives her personal perspective on the current accessibility picture in digital public services.

Is the EU鈥檚 2030 digital target realistic for disabled people and those with neurodiverse conditions?

No! At least not yet. Of course, it is good to have an ambition to include everyone but, in my opinion, it is beyond the realm of current technology. It doesn鈥檛 consider those so severely disabled they cannot speak, leave their bed, or even tolerate light 鈥� how would they access these services? So, while I welcome the EU鈥檚 2030 digital target, that ambition is only the start. The most disabled people with the most complex needs will be those for whom the most work needs to be done. To create citizen-centric services that work for everyone, government bodies must think accessibility first, design second.

What digital access barriers do disabled people and neurodivergent citizens still face?

They face numerous access barriers every single day, in both the digital and real world. This can be anything from a visually impaired person unable to use a screen-reader with a website to a neurodivergent person facing inaccessible language in an app. Or it might be someone with access needs who is completely digitally excluded being asked to make a phone call to get accessible information, ignoring the fact that many people can鈥檛 easily use a phone!

What impact can digital accessibility have on government policy, as well as on the inclusivity of public information and services?

It鈥檚 all about money really! Digital accessibility could save governments a lot of money in the long term. How? By allowing citizens to self-serve information and services, rather than needing direct contact with an advisor to do the same thing. Not to mention that inclusivity allows for greater reach of government information to the wider community, thus maximizing the impact of policies, as well as complying with digital inclusion laws.

What needs to change 鈥� e.g. what鈥檚 stopping investment in digital accessibility?

Personally, I feel it鈥檚 mostly down to ableism! Either intentionally, or out of ignorance. Some people are unsure of how to make their services accessible and believe it to be more difficult than it is. Others simply don鈥檛 care, believing disabled people to be unimportant, subscribing to rhetoric along the lines that we don鈥檛 work, or do not contribute to society in any way. There is an urgent need to educate non-disabled people about the value of more inclusive thinking and approaches. To achieve the EU鈥檚 2030 target, government and public service agencies should promote an inclusive workplace culture where staff are trained in digital accessibility and the topic is anchored in the department鈥檚 mission statement.  

Can you give us some real-life examples of accessible design and co-creation?

The HMRC Mobile App on which I worked achieved full compliance with accessibility standards for two years in a row. This was achieved by putting accessibility first and design second. Simply put, if it wasn鈥檛 accessible, we didn鈥檛 include it.

For example, we intended to introduce a component to the app that allowed part of the screen to be hidden and revealed at the push of a button, but I had concerns that this would not be suitable for screen reader users. I found ways to ensure this was fully accessible, and we did not include it in the app until it was. As well as drawing on my own expertise as an accessibility expert, we took feedback from disabled users before a professional audit was undertaken by the Digital Accessibility Centre (DAC).

How are AI and other technologies creating new possibilities?

The key difference AI is making to me, and disabled programmers like me, is making programming more accessible. More disabled programmers can only be a good thing, as this is likely to lead to more awareness of accessibility needs, a greater focus on accessibility and thus, more accessible services! Not to mention, for non-technical people with access needs, the ability to convert language into plain, easy to understand language for themselves at the push of a button.

More broadly, AI and other GovTech solutions are beginning to create a more inclusive public sector. For example, there are technological tools available, such as screen readers, magnification software, image description tools, apps that convert text into speech, and AI-supported solutions that interpret visual content and convert it to text or speech. All of these are designed to empower citizens through digital accessibility to public services, creating new possibilities for inclusive citizen-centric government.

What one digital accessibility action do you want all governments to take right now? 

To listen. Listening to disabled people and understanding our needs is the only way change will happen. Understanding that we are real individuals, with real lives, dignity and rights, that deserve equal access to services. And then, of course, acting on that.

So, what action is needed right now? I鈥檝e co-authored a point of view on this, called Public means everybody. We offer recommendations on how to make digital public services work for everyone. We draw on monitoring and research exercises across the EU public sector and show how GovTech is being used to address inaccessible online content and website structures. From proactive engagement with disabled citizens to working with innovative startups in the GovTech sector, we set out a systematic, scalable approach to transforming online government services.

For more, read Public means everybody: Accessibility first, design second in citizen services.