If you’ve been following the conversation around artificial intelligence and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting, you’ve probably felt it too: a mix of curiosity, hope — and fear.
We’ve seen AI interpreting tools get smarter, faster, and more accessible. Just last month, Syracuse University piloted Sign-Speak, an AI-powered ASL interpreting service designed to translate between spoken English and ASL in real time. The technology is evolving rapidly, and with each new advancement, a familiar worry grows in the interpreting community: Will AI take our jobs?
I understand that fear. I’ve heard it in staff meetings and community forums. But I’m here to offer a different lens — one grounded in what truly matters:
Deaf choice. Deaf autonomy. Deaf leadership.
A New Tool, Not a Replacement
Let’s get one thing straight: AI is not here to replace qualified human interpreters. It’s here to expand access and to support communication in moments when human connection isn’t available.
We know the realities. Interpreter shortages are real, especially in rural areas or during off-hours. Some Deaf individuals wait days for access to interpreting services. Others are offered poorly matched or unqualified interpreters. In these moments, when nothing is available, a responsive AI tool might make all the difference.
Think of AI interpreting as another tool in the Deaf community’s toolbox — right alongside in-person interpreting, virtual interpreting, and even written communication. It’s not a threat. It’s an option.
And that’s where the conversation really belongs: centered on choice.
What Deaf Autonomy Really Means
Autonomy means having the power to decide what’s best for you — in your own language, on your own terms. Some Deaf individuals will continue to prefer in-person interpreters for the richness of expression, emotional nuance, and cultural understanding we bring. Others may feel more comfortable using VRI (Video Remote Interpreting) when it suits their schedule. And yes, some may opt for AI tools when they need quick access in low-stakes situations.
The key is that it’s their decision. Not ours.
It is not our job to fear or fight Deaf people’s choices. It is our job to support them — whatever tools they choose to use.
Human Interpreters Are Still Essential
Let’s not forget: ASL is more than just hand shapes and grammar. It is facial expressions, body language, emotional intelligence, and cultural context. No AI — no matter how powerful — can replicate the lived experience and empathy of a Deaf-aware, trained interpreter.
There are moments when only a human being will do. Medical appointments. Legal proceedings. Mental health sessions. Education settings. These require a level of emotional presence and responsiveness that technology can’t touch.
So no — we are not becoming obsolete. We’re evolving, just like the world around us.
Embrace the Tech, Protect the Ethics
If we reject this technology outright, we risk losing the opportunity to shape it. We should be asking:
- How accurate is it really in different dialects and registers of ASL?
- Is the data being used ethically?
- Who’s training the models — and are Deaf people at the table?
- Is it accessible to all users, regardless of race, gender, or signing style?
Rather than fearing this evolution, let’s step into it. Let’s lead. Let’s push for Deaf-led development, ethical guardrails, and culturally competent design. Let’s teach this technology what human interpreters already know — and use it to amplify, not replace, our work.
A Call to Interpreters and Allies
To my fellow interpreters: your work is still vital. But your mindset matters just as much. The future of ASL access isn’t about clinging to what was. It’s about advocating for what’s next — in a way that puts Deaf voices first.
To the Deaf community: you deserve tools that reflect your brilliance, your culture, and your right to choose how and when you communicate. We’re here to support you — not steer you.
AI is coming, whether we like it or not. But if we embrace it with courage and clarity, we can make sure it becomes a support, not a threat.
Let’s build a future where Deaf autonomy leads the way.
By Dave Coyne
If you want to connect to discuss this topic further, please reach out to me at dcoyne@gatewaymaryland.org to schedule a time to meet.
Learn More About Gateway
Gateway connects people to their worlds and aids individuals in their ability to understand and to be understood. Gateway has grown into an organization that serves more than 4,000 children and adults every year, helping them communicate more effectively. With programming both on our Baltimore campus and through community-based programming, we provide education, access, and medical support to anyone who needs it.
We envision a society where everyone can understand and be understood and where everyone is treated with integrity, compassion, and equity.
