The World Health Organization estimates that more than 2.5 billion people will require at least one assistive technology by 2030.
The UAE is positioning artificial intelligence as a key pillar in reshaping education for the future, with a particular focus on enabling People of Determination to learn independently and participate fully in the education system, according to a recent study by Emirati education and AI researcher Mona Al Hammadi.
The study highlights several initiatives, including investment in AI-focused educational research for this group, as well as incentives and awards for researchers developing such solutions, aimed at encouraging further innovation.
Another key opportunity highlighted is the organisation of regular open conferences to share AI tools and expertise, with the goal of developing recommendations tailored to the capabilities of People of Determination and supporting their integration into the wider job market.
The study also suggests creating a dedicated AI-enabled broadcast platform—such as a television channel or YouTube platform—to connect People of Determination globally and share best practices in education.
These initiatives reflect a broader shift identified in the study: moving students from passive consumers of technology to active creators and analysts of the digital tools they use—a change especially important for learners who have historically had limited access to mainstream educational technologies.
Beyond policy measures, AI-powered tools are already widely used in everyday life. Microsoft’s Seeing AI reads printed and handwritten text aloud for visually impaired users, Read&Write supports individuals with dyslexia through text-to-speech and word prediction features, and Be My Eyes connects visually impaired users with sighted volunteers via live video assistance. AI-based sign language translation tools help deaf users convert speech to text and vice versa in real time, while applications such as Zyrobotics analyse learner interactions to identify difficulties early.
Most of these are general consumer applications rather than specialised hardware, meaning People of Determination and their families can access many of them using standard smartphones, often free or at low cost.
These developments are taking place within a rapidly expanding global context. The worldwide AI in education market is projected to grow from $3.43 billion in 2023 to $54.5 billion by 2032, according to a Research and Markets report cited in the study. At the same time, the World Health Organization estimates that over 2.5 billion people will require at least one assistive technology by 2030, with nearly one billion currently unable to access it. A 2024 UNESCO review attributes this gap partly to cost barriers and limited digital literacy.
