DOOR International is testing artificial intelligence (AI) to help with ministry to the Deaf and hard of hearing (hoh). But using AI is not easy. Robert Myers, President of DOOR International, said that using AI to translate written language into sign language is much harder than translating between written languages.
“Even if you just consider how many megabytes it takes to send a video through email versus a picture or a bunch of text through an email,” he explained in an interview with Mission Network News (MNN), “a video is much, much more complex, much thicker in terms of the technology that’s required.”
Only 2% of the world’s 70 million Deaf people follow Jesus, according to DOOR International. Wycliffe reports that of the 380 known sign languages in the world, only one has a complete Bible translation, leaving millions without access to the Gospel in a language they understand.
AI solutions offer several benefits. For example, an AI-generated avatar could replace a real person in a video. For Deaf Christians in countries where Christianity is restricted, not showing individuals’ faces significantly reduces risk.
Myers mentioned a project related to Wycliffe Bible Translators called Chameleon, which creates an avatar in real-time to mask someone’s identity. He said another organization working on this uses a technology similar to a deep fake.
DOOR International is looking into using AI for creating artwork for sign language Bible translations. Deaf artists currently handle this work. With AI, artists could concentrate on proofing and editing the art, allowing them to produce more art than before. The proofing process is complex because the artwork, backgrounds in videos, and the signer’s facial expressions must convey the correct message with the right tone. This process must be even more precise when translating Scriptures into sign languages, which are usually released on video.
Myers stressed that most Christians around the world do not know that many Deaf communities have not yet been reached with the Gospel nor how technology could help more Deaf people to see the Gospel in their own sign language sooner. He encouraged Christians to raise awareness by sharing about this on social media and inviting others to join them in prayer for Deaf communities.