Seminar – Addressing challenges and opportunities posed by AI for persons with disabilities and older persons

This 1.5-day seminar will take place on 16-17 September 2025 (in person, location TBC, in conjunction with the AI Working Group meeting, Disability Cluster meeting, and Age Cluster meeting). It is aimed at members of the AI Working Group, Disability Cluster, Age Cluster.

Background

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) brings both opportunities and challenges, particularly for vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities and older adults. As outlined by the thematic report on Artificial intelligence (AI) and the rights of persons with disabilities by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, AI-enabled technologies have the potential to enhance accessibility, improve independence, and offer new avenues for participation in society. However, there are significant risks, including biased algorithms, exclusion from digital services, and lack of representation in AI development which can exacerbate existing inequalities. Previous Equinet work, including the “Equinet AI Report” and activities by the Equinet’s Age Cluster and Equinet’s Disability Cluster, highlighted the urgent need for a focused discussion on AI’s impact on these groups.

This seminar will explore the intersections between AI technology, age and disability focusing on both sides of AI’s impact on equality. The first half of the seminar will outline risks, based on previous Equinet work, in collaboration with and drawing upon the expertise of rights-holders organisations. The second half of the seminar will focus on the opportunities that AI poses, including assistive technology for persons with disabilities and older persons.

Objectives

• Create knowledge and build capacity on the potential as well as the risks of AI technologies for older persons and persons with disabilities
• Identify avenues and possibilities for cooperation between Equality Bodies and relevant rights-holders organisations
• Facilitate mutual learning on good practices by Equinet Members

Participants

The target audience of this seminar is members of the AI Working Group, Disability Cluster, Age Cluster.

For further information, please contact Milla Vidina (milla.vidina@equineteurope.org)