Keynotes
Title
Dr. Michael Shields
Chief Scientist Test Resource Management Center Department of Defense

Sanjay Goel
University at Albany, SUNY, USA
How AI Is Transforming Assistive Technology—and Why Privacy & Security Matters
Bio: Sanjay Goel is the Massry Professor and Chair of the Information Security and Digital Forensics Department in the School of Business, University at Albany, SUNY. He got his doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic University. Prior to joining UAlbany he worked at GE Global Research on engineering optimization problems, focusing on aircraft engine component design. His research interests include behavioral cyber security, cyber deception, Artificial Intelligence (intrusion detection, assistive technologies), self-organization, complex systems, cyber risk management, and engineering optimization.Â
He won the Promising Inventor’s Award in 2005 from the SUNY Research Foundation. In 2006, he was awarded the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the UAlbany Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Graduate Student Organization Award for Faculty Mentoring. In 2010 he was awarded the UAlbany Excellence in Research Award. In 2015, he was also awarded the SUNY Chancellors’ Excellence in Academic Service, UAlbany Presidents’ Excellence in University Service, and School of Business Excellence in Research Award. He was named one of the three AT&T Industrial Ecology Faculty Fellows for 2009-2010. He has received grant funding of over 20 million dollars from various sources including, National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Education, National Science Foundation, Region II University Transportation Research Center, New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA), AT&T Foundation and James S. McDonnell Foundation., Blackstone Foundation, National Security Agency. He is the director of Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics programs in the School of Business at the University at Albany. He has established the Blackstone Launchpad Center to foster entrepreneurship and the FACETS Cyber Security Center at the University.
Abstract
AI has fundamentally altered the realm of assistive technologies for people with both physical and cognitive difficulties. Intelligent speech recognition and natural language processing tools allow individuals with speech impediments to communicate through real-time transcription, voice synthesis, or adaptive conversation aids. Computer vision technologies support people with visual impairments by interpreting surroundings, reading text aloud, and assisting with navigation. AI models trained on diverse datasets can recognize and transcribe impaired speech more accurately, as seen in initiatives like Google’s Project Euphonia. Text-to-speech technologies using generative AI allow users to create personalized synthetic voices that preserve their vocal identity even when they lose the ability to speak. Prosthetics and exoskeletons enabled with AI can adapt to users’ movements and allow better mobility and control than conventional prosthetic devices. Generative AI is now being leveraged to create customized curriculum that is more suitable for students with cognitive difficulties to allow easy access to content for students on the autism spectrum. This can create learning experiences that adapt to the needs of individual students. Tools like Epsy and Epilepsy track seizures, monitor behavior, and provide personalized reminders making a difference for learners with epilepsy. Apple continues to lead with innovations such as on-device AI for atypical speech recognition and head or eye tracking, as well as efforts to improve cross-platform accessibility—making their solutions more inclusive, even beyond the Apple ecosystem. AI is empowering individuals with disabilities to lead more independent, dignified, and socially engaged lives while easing caregiver burdens. Beyond software, companies are also rethinking the design of workspaces by making it into a neuro-inclusive office design. As we embrace these technologies, there are also privacy and security vulnerabilities that are especially for people with disabilities. AI based assistive technologies can involve sensitive personal data, including, speech samples, facial expressions, health records, and neural signals from brain–computer interfaces and increase the risk of data misuse, unauthorized surveillance, and identity theft. And we cannot ignore neurotypical bias involved with the use of AI, which may limit their effectiveness in providing truly inclusive support. This talk discusses the development in the field of assistive technologies using Artificial intelligence and the security and privacy protection for people with disabilities.