Pakistan Launches SILA AI Translator for Deaf Users

Pakistan has introduced SILA, an artificial-intelligence translator developed to make emergency
information more accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The tool forms part of an
inclusive early-warning effort designed to communicate urgent safety information in a form users
can understand quickly.
The technology has been developed by ConnectHear with support from partners including GSMA
Pakistan and Ufone, while the United Kingdom has also supported the broader inclusive warning
initiative. The project has been demonstrated with deaf students to show how AI can improve access
to public-safety information.
For the education sector, the development is relevant beyond emergencies. Accessible AI tools can
help schools and universities think more seriously about inclusive communication for
announcements, learning materials and campus safety. Institutions adopting such technology should
ensure that accessibility features are tested with the communities they are meant to serve.