Ability assumption in AI

The tendency of AI systems to assume users possess typical sensory, cognitive, or physical abilities, leading to inappropriate responses or instructions. In the context of visual AI assistants for blind users, ability assumptions manifest as the system asking users to "read the label yourself," "check for signs," or "look around for landmarks" — instructions that are useless or frustrating for someone who cannot see. Even when users explicitly state they are blind, AI systems may fail to consistently adapt their responses. This problem stems from training data and interaction patterns that predominantly reflect sighted users' needs. Addressing ability assumptions requires AI systems that can learn and remember individual users' ability profiles and tailor all responses accordingly.