Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to engage with the UKRI-funded Sciencewise study into the use of AI for British Sign Language.

The government notes the Minderoo report and its recommendations, which are under consideration.

As part of HMG's commitment to supporting Deaf and disabled people, we are supporting the RNID and ScienceWise public dialogue project on AI and BSL called 'What is the future?’. This will explore opportunities, challenges and ethical issues of AI BSL translations, providing future recommendations for government and technology leaders including on how the Deaf community can be involved in and shape future AI-driven BSL tools.

The Disability Unit and Government Commercial Agency are part funders of this project and one member of the Government’s BSL Advisory Board (Ahmed Mudawi), will sit on the project’s Oversight Board. The BSL Advisory Board also has a technology subgroup focusing on AI.

It is vital that developments in the use of AI for BSL are closely monitored and that the UK Government continues to engage with the BSL Advisory Board and wider Deaf community on potential uses and risks, and how it could help improve the lives of Deaf people.