What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT came out last November 2022, approx. 5 months ago from the writing of this article. ChatGPT is technically a language model, but for layman's purposes, it's easier to explain it as a really smart computer that can understand human-like language. It works by analyzing and learning from huge amounts of data from all over the world such as written text, books, articles, audio, video, and more.
The world's data goes through ChatGPT and uses that knowledge to write or answer questions in a simple way that sounds human-like. Think of it as a super-smart language robot that can talk and write like a real person. That's ChatGPT in a nutshell.
How ChatGPT can support the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Community
Improved communication: As ChatGPT can assist with written communication, Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals who may find it challenging to express themselves through writing can receive suggestions on grammar and vocabulary, leading to more effective communication.
Access to information: ChatGPT can help bridge the information gap for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals who have limited resources available in sign language or may struggle with complex written language. By enabling them to input questions and receive written responses, ChatGPT offers a quick and efficient way to access information.
Education and learning: ChatGPT can help Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals learn new languages and/or skill sets that help them throughout life.
Increased independence: With ChatGPT's assistance in communication and access to information, Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals can become more self-sufficient, leading to increased independence and empowerment within the community.
ChatGPT Limitations
As ChatGPT only processes written language, it cannot translate sign language into written language, which may limit its usefulness. This means that ChatGPT may not be as effective in assisting Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals who rely on sign language as their primary mode of communication.
While ChatGPT can be useful in providing information quickly and efficiently, there is a risk that the information may be inaccurate or incomplete. It is important to verify any information obtained through ChatGPT.
For legal or medical advice, it is always best to consult with a qualified professional who can provide accurate and personalized advice tailored to the user's specific situation. ChatGPT can be used to clarify concepts and terminology, but users should not rely solely on it to make critical decisions.
The Future of ChatGPT
GoSignAI is actively pursuing a world where ChatGPT and sign language can seamlessly integrate. This would mean that users in the near future can:
Ask ChatGPT questions in sign language.
Receive responses in sign language from ChatGPT.
However, it's important to note that no organization has come close to achieving this vision yet. While avatar technology and other methods exist, GoSignAI believes that the integration must serve a wide range of diversity and be as seamless as possible before it can be considered a complete tool.
We urge members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to be cautious about any announcements regarding ChatGPT + sign language integration. If you come across such projects, be sure to check if they have the necessary deaf lens to guide the projects to success. Most of the time, these organizations are owned by hearing people or have hearing leaders in deaf technology who vastly underestimate the challenges faced by the sign language community.
Despite the challenges, integrating sign language and tools like ChatGPT will eventually happen. It's an exciting future to look forward to.