Artificial intelligence unlocks silver screen for people with disabilities

Chinese actor Hu Ge uses AI to narrate films accessible to the visually impaired through Youku’s initiative.
The accessible theater initiative leverages AI to transform mainstream film into accessible formats for visually impaired, hearing-impaired, and elderly audiences.
Chen Yanling, head of public welfare at Alibaba’s Hujing Digital Media, began as a volunteer providing accessible film screenings and later coordinated teams to develop the online accessible theater.
AI technology has dramatically sped up the conversion process of films into accessible formats, reducing production time from three days to about two hours.
Initially focusing on visual impairment, the project now extends to hearing impairments through AI-assisted subtitles that describe speaker identities and background sounds.
AI is also utilized in Youku’s “Silver Hair Theater” to adapt content for elderly viewers through features like large-font subtitles and elder-friendly audio.
The project aims for inclusivity and efficiency, balancing technological advancement with the warmth of public welfare.
Chen’s work culminated in her recognition when she carried the torch at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics for her efforts in accessibility initiatives.