Our commitment to ethical use of AI in AAC

At TTMT we believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) — helping people communicate more efficiently, express themselves more clearly, and connect more freely with the world around them.

Used well, AI can make communication faster and more accurate. It can support spelling and grammar, reduce fatigue, and help individuals shape complex ideas into clear messages. It can also personalize the experience of using AAC, offering more natural expression. These benefits must never come at the cost of agency, privacy, or individuality.

We believe strongly that AI should empower people who use AAC — not speak for them or override their intent. We are committed to using AI in a way that respects the rights, dignity, and identity of every person who uses our technology.

Our six principles guide the way we develop and use AI features in our products:

1. AI should assist, not replace, human communication: We design AI tools that support the user — never to take over or generate speech independently. The person using AAC is always in control of what is spoken.
2. People come first: We prioritize the needs, rights, and preferences of people who use AAC. We aim to reduce barriers, challenge bias, and avoid solutions that could reinforce discrimination or disadvantage.
3. Privacy is fundamental: We work with trusted providers and never share identifiable data without consent. Where external services are used, we will be transparent and help you make informed choices.
4. Transparency and control: We will always be clear about how AI is used in our products, what data is processed, and what options are available. All AI-powered features are optional or easy to turn off. 
5. Ongoing responsibility: We thoroughly assess the risks and impact of AI features before they are launched. We continue to test and monitor how they perform, and we listen to feedback from the AAC community to improve them.
6. Human oversight matters: AI features in our products are reviewed and implemented by a team of professionals including AT specialists and speech and language therapists. We combine the benefits of AI with real-world expertise.

We use AI in specific ways to improve communication and ease of use:

• Text and phrase suggestions, and tools for editing and correcting text. This always leaves the final decision with the user.
• AI-generated voices from providers like SpeakUnique, CereProc, Voicekeeper, and others, allow personalized and expressive speech. 

All of these features are designed to support communication — not replace it — and to keep users in control.

We provide ways for you to connect our products to your own accounts in products from other providers, like ElevenLabs voices, Spotify, Google, etc.  We recommend reviewing the provider’s policies when you create those accounts to understand how they use AI and how your data may be used. 

AI is evolving rapidly. As we continue to explore new features and tools, we will keep these ethical principles at the heart of everything we do. We will listen, learn, and adapt in response to the needs of people who use AAC, their families, and the professionals who support them.

Our mission is to give individuals the tools they need to express themselves — clearly, authentically, and on their own terms.