The launch of ASSIST Software’s office in Augsburg, Germany was marked by the organization of an AI-focused event at the Augsburg Technology Center (TZA), on the 26th of September, 2025. The gathering brought together representatives from local businesses, research institutions, and public authorities to discuss the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence across sectors.

The event served as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, featuring presentations and discussions on how AI technologies can enhance productivity, support innovation, and contribute to a more inclusive digital society.

Within this context, Professor Radu-Daniel Vatavu from Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava (USV) introduced the A(I)BILITIES project, developed in collaboration with ASSIST Software. His presentation highlighted the project’s goal of creating AI-driven assistive technologies that improve digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

By showcasing innovative solutions that personalize user interaction and align with the European Accessibility Act, the project demonstrated how artificial intelligence can be leveraged to make technology more inclusive, adaptive, and human-centered.

Attendees expressed strong interest in the project’s approach, recognizing its potential to inspire accessible AI solutions in both the public and private sectors.

After nine months of sustained collaboration and regular virtual meetings, experts from ASSIST and USV came together in person at Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava on September 19^th.  

The sessions began with a high-level review of project progress, covering both technical and user-focused aspects, and included planning for upcoming deliverables to ensure continued alignment across teams.  

USV representatives also elaborated on the scientific papers produced as part of the A(I)BILITIES project, sharing insights and clarifying technical aspects to guide ASSIST’s implementation work. This exchange highlighted the project’s collaborative model, allowing ASSIST to leverage USV’s research expertise and align technical development with the latest findings. 

In addition to the working sessions, the teams visited the MintViz Lab at USV, providing a valuable opportunity for informal discussions and knowledge exchange. The visit allowed ASSIST to explore ongoing research and observe advanced data visualization tools. It also provided practical insights to inform the project’s predictive models, user performance metrics, and user interface design. 

These interactions strengthened collaboration between partners, highlighted challenges to tackle, and laid a solid foundation for the next deliverables and ongoing progress in the A(I)BILITIES project.

Looking ahead, the A(I)BILITIES team is getting closer to shaping the first blueprints of a disabilities digital twin, a potential innovation that could pave the way toward a Human Virtual Twin and more inclusive, user-centered digital experiences.

Bridging Academia and Industry: A Model for Productive, Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Since day one, the collaboration between ASSIST Software and the MintViz Lab at Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava (USV) has proven to be highly productive and results-driven. The interdisciplinary nature of the work ensures that both academic excellence and practical applicability remain at the core of the A(I)BILITIES project. Regular meetings, held every 2 to 3 weeks depending on the project's phase and synchronization needs, serve as a vital space for planning, exchanging insights, and refining research and development efforts.

These sessions are more than status updates — they are strategic co-design moments where the partners discuss prototypes, brainstorm future directions, and troubleshoot challenges together. From aligning technical decisions to reviewing dissemination plans, the two teams maintain an open and transparent workflow.

Project status

The A(I)BILITIES project aims to develop cutting-edge generative AI technologies capable of automatically creating user interfaces that adapt to the diverse abilities and preferences of users with disabilities. By learning from real user interactions, these AI models will not only generate accessible designs but will also continuously improve and personalize the experience over time.

With steady progress and a strong work dynamic, we are well on track to reaching the key milestones planned for the end of 2025, with the scope of work clearly defined and a strong foundation in place. In parallel, market research is underway to better understand user needs, industry trends, and real-world adoption scenarios — ensuring that our solutions are not only innovative but also relevant and impactful.

The teams have conducted an in-depth analysis of iOS and particularly Android platforms to explore technical possibilities for enhancing accessibility on mainstream devices. The system architecture is being co-developed by ASSIST and MintViz Lab, ensuring alignment between research and implementation. In parallel, key metrics for evaluating usability and accessibility have been established, setting the stage for future development and testing phases.

Although still in the early stages of implementation, the A(I)BILITIES project is already making significant strides in accessible technology, attracting international attention through impactful presentations and research contributions at major human-computer interaction and accessibility conferences.

In recent months, the project team, particularly the MintViz Lab of the Ștefan cel Mare University, has participated in prominent academic and professional events, including CHI 2025 (ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems) and W4A ’25 (the 22nd International Web for All Conference). At these venues, the team presented key insights from their work within the A(I)BILITIES project, focusing on the intersection of artificial intelligence, accessibility, and inclusive design.

Among the highlights:

• “Breaking Bad (Design): Challenging AI User Interface Accessibility Guardrails” – An experimental investigation into the boundaries of AI-generated design, using intentional inaccessibility as a method to interrogate the "design intelligence" of modern AI tools.
• “When LLM-Generated Code Perpetuates User Interface Accessibility Barriers, How Can We Break the Cycle?” – A thought-provoking paper exploring the unintended consequences of AI-generated code on digital accessibility.
• “Gesture-A11Y: A Large-Scale Hub for Accessible Gesture Input” – Presenting a robust platform for accessible gesture interaction design, aiming to empower developers and designers with inclusive tools.
• “Empowering Accessible Gesture Input Design with Gesture-A11Y” – A complementary paper that delves into practical implementation strategies for creating gesture-based interfaces accessible to users with diverse abilities.
• “Insights and Implications of Evaluating Accessibility Compliance in AI-Generated Web Interfaces” – This study analyzed fifty AI-generated web UIs, highlighting both the promise and current limitations of AI in creating accessible design.

Several of these research articles were recognized for their academic merit, including the Accessibility Challenge Judges Award and nominations for Best Communication Paper awards.

As the project progresses, the team remains committed to fostering collaboration, ensuring that AI is not only powerful — but empowering for all.

Transforming digital accessibility with A(I)BILITIES

The beginning of 2025 marked the launch of the A(I)BILITIES project, an initiative dedicated to advancing digital accessibility, carried out by ASSIST Software in partnership with the MintViz Lab of Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava.

The kick-off meeting, hosted by ASSIST on January 21, not only marked the start of a promising collaboration but also reaffirmed a shared commitment to a broader vision — one that guides the very foundation of the A(I)BILITIES project:

We envision a world where digital experiences are inclusive, personalized, and accessible to all. Despite technological advancements and growing awareness, people with various disabilities continue to face significant barriers in accessing and interacting with digital technologies. So we’re building A(I)BILITIES to harness the power of generative AI in creating adaptive, intelligent solutions that respond to individual needs and enable equitable access to digital tools.

Through this approach, the project brings the advanced research conducted at the MintViz Lab closer to practical application, transforming AI innovations into accessible and meaningful tools. It also promotes more intuitive and personalized human-computer interaction, in line with MintViz Lab’s vision of purposeful and effective technology use.

Strengthening Collaboration for Digital Innovation

The partnership between ASSIST Software and Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava is long-standing, built on ongoing collaboration in research projects and educational initiatives. This enduring connection provides a solid foundation for implementing the A(I)BILITIES project and achieving its digital accessibility goals.

In this context, the A(I)BILITIES kick-off meeting brought the project teams together in an open, constructive environment and set the tone for cooperation focused on innovation, digital inclusion, and the practical application of research.

The agenda included an overview of the project, highlights of MintViz Lab’s prior research, and an emphasis on involving end-users with disabilities at every stage of development. Key technical challenges were analyzed, and collaboration tools—such as shared digital platforms for project management, data exchange, and regular meetings—were agreed upon.