Newsroom

Your Build AI Questions—Answered

hannah.griffin@aira.ioby Hannah Griffin•Posted July 23, 2024
A black and white image of a man holding up a phone with the Aira app open, and using it to read a menu outside of a restaurant. There are blurred people in the background beyond him. In white text on a black box are the words "Explorer News—Your Build AI Questions, Answered. Aira's Biggest Access Offer Yet." In the upper left corner are two teal lines. In the bottom left is the Aira logo in teal and black. In the right side of the graphic are three white lines going at a 45 degree angle.

Build AI FAQ

Aira’s Biggest Access Offer Yet

Aira has a long-standing history with AI, and we see its enormous potential to advance and offer more value to the blind and low vision community. Earlier this year, we launched Access AI, a free image chat experience that provides instant descriptions and the ability to request free, on-demand verification from our professional visual interpreters. We’re continuing this commitment to pushing AI forward within our product with an exciting new initiative called Build AI. 

Aira is inviting Explorers who make calls in the US to join Build AI and participate in helping to train AI to effectively assist the blind and low vision community. Explorers who opt into Build AI will have some of their qualifying call recordings securely shared with our third-party AI technology partners. These sessions will provide a data foundation to allow us to develop global solutions that uniquely address the broad and trusted use of visual interpreting. Aira’s goal with Build AI is to continue our tradition of innovation, and develop cutting-edge AI technology with the potential to support independence and efficiency for Explorers. 

 

What is Build AI? How are Build AI and Access AI different? 

Aira is taking the next step in AI innovation for the blind and low vision community. To do that, we are partnering with leaders in the AI space. Build AI is Aira’s data collection program that Explorers can opt into. By participating, you allow Aira to share your visual interpreter call recordings (excluding those with personal information, or those paid for by third parties like employers, schools, or Access Offers i.e. Target or Starbucks) with our AI development partners. Your benefit for being part of the program is that you receive 10 free minutes every 30 minutes. This offer is similar to Aira’s 5 minutes free offer in that you receive free minutes that reset after a set period of time. In this case, your 10 free Build AI minutes reset every 30 minutes. Just like the 5 minutes free, your minutes do not accumulate and will automatically reset every 30 minutes. 

This doesn’t change how you use Aira and doesn’t impact the separate, free Access AI feature. With Build AI, you still speak with a human visual interpreter. Access AI is an AI image chat, but you can choose while using it to connect with a human visual interpreter for verification. The purpose of the Build AI program is to help Aira potentially develop advanced AI capabilities by using real-world data. While there are no guaranteed outcomes, the collected data might aid in creating new AI features. Your participation is entirely on your terms; you can opt out at any time and control which calls are shared.

Build AI is an Access Offer, but what does an Access Offer mean?

An Access Offer is a way to access free Aira minutes. When calling Aira through an Access Offer, a specified number of minutes are free, and the Explorer will not be charged for them. Only one Access Offer can be used per call. If an Explorer wants to maximize their savings and use multiple offers, they will need to end the call and call back with a different offer. Visual interpreters cannot switch Access Offers, and once an offer is started, it cannot be paused. 

How do I join Build AI? 

If your app is up to date and you are located in the US, follow these steps to sign up:

  1. Look for a banner on the main screen inviting you to join Build AI.
  2. Click the link on mobile or web.
  3. If you miss the banner, go to More > Preferences. Toggle on Build AI and agree to the terms and conditions.
  4. You can also use this section to opt out of the program at any time. 

Do I need to do anything to activate this offer? 

No, the offer will be auto-applied. 

How do I opt out a specific call from being shared with the AI partner?

To opt a specific call out, follow the below steps: 

  1. Go to “Call History” within 72 hours of completing the call
  2. Select the call in question 
  3. Use the options at the bottom of the screen to not share the call  

Who is eligible for the Build AI offer? 

Build AI is available for Explorers calling from within the U.S. Calls from an international number are eligible for this offer when the call is placed within the US. Both Explorers with free accounts and paid subscriptions can opt in. 

Why is this only in the US? 

We intentionally partner with organizations that share our mission to advance AI benefits specifically for blind and low vision individuals as well as maintain stringent safety and security standards. At present, our third-party AI partners cannot manage data collected outside of the US due to their own high standard data handling policies, including compliance with privacy laws. While we cannot forecast or commit to supporting non-US-based calls at this time, we recognize this limitation and continue to advocate for broader access. Despite these restrictions, the AI solutions we develop from the data we collect will be available globally and will not be limited by geography.

We understand the significant access Aira provides and acknowledge the disappointment for users outside the US regarding the current limitations. Know that we are working toward expansion alongside our partners and plan on the AI we develop not being restricted by geography. Aira subscribers, wherever they are located, will still get priority connect over Build AI calls, especially when there is high demand. 

Which calls are shared?

If you choose to opt in to this program, subscriber minutes as well as Aira sponsored offers such as Five Minute Free call minutes, Job Seeker Access Offer, and the Build AI Access Offer will be shared. These are all Aira supported Access Offers, which is why they are shared. You can always opt out certain calls that you do not want shared. Sessions through an Access Partner, like at an airport or through an employer, will be excluded from Build AI. As with any Access Offer, the visual interpreter will communicate with the Explorer that the Build AI offer can be used. When using Access AI, if you choose to verify the chat responses with a human visual interpreter, we may share the images with the Build AI partner, and the messages may be read and appear in the audio. 

Can I use the Build AI access for any task I want? 

Yes, you can but that may change so take advantage while you can. In the future, we may change the eligibility and exclude certain tasks. Today, we encourage you to make use of the offer for everything. Sessions that contain sensitive information will not be shared with third-party AI partners regardless of your choice to share the session.

How secure is Build AI when it comes to my personal information? 

As part of Build AI, Aira is committed to maintaining our high standards of trust within the Explorer community. This means the program has rigorous controls to ensure security and privacy for all participants. Explorers have full authority which calls are shared for the first 72 hours after the session has completed. No Explorer will have their data shared with Aira’s third-party technology partners without explicit consent. Call will be de-identified with only the video and audio from the call recording shared. Calls identified as containing sensitive information will not be shared. This includes information like financial data (credit card numbers, financial statements), medical information (prescription details, medical records), or personal information that identifies someone (state ID information, passport details).

Explorers can also opt out of sharing any specific call through the “Call History” feature in the app, which shows the session sharing status. By clicking on a specific call’s entry, a feedback form will appear. This contains a new drop-down that allows Explorers to opt-out of sharing an individual session. Explorers can also call customer care to have a session opted out of Build AI. 

If I opt in, can I opt back out? 

Due to our commitment to privacy, which includes not sharing your data and sessions with third parties without your consent, we are requesting your consent for data sharing through this program. Your participation is entirely on your terms; you can opt out at any time and control which calls are shared. Simply navigate in-app to your preferences, then scroll to the bottom and toggle on or off the “Build AI” section. 

How does this impact my subscription if I have one? 

If you opt in to the program, your calls from your subscription will also be shared, but you can opt out of any calls through the “Call History” feature in the app. As we expect there to be higher demand for calls, subscriber calls will receive priority connect to avoid longer wait times that may occur with the Build AI Access Offer. If you use the Build AI Access Offer and go over the time limit, it will roll into your paid minutes, similar to a Five Minute Free call. 

I received an ineligible content for one of my Build AI calls. Does that mean my plan minutes were used?

No, your plan minutes were not used. This means that the call contained sensitive information and will not be shared. The first 10 minutes of that call were still covered by the Build AI program.

What happens if I’m on a Build AI call for more than 10 minutes?

If you’re on a Build AI call for more than 10 minutes, only the first 10 minutes will be under the Build AI offer, and the remaining time will be covered by your account minutes.

Why does opting in provide Explorers with free minutes via the Build AI Access Offer? 

The third-party technology partners that are working with Aira are supporting this Access Offer, in exchange for Aira providing call recordings to train AI.

Who are the third-party technology partners Aira is working with? 

While the names of the third-party AI companies are confidential, Aira can share that they are major AI companies with very high standards around data stewardship. Aira is committed to keeping Explorers informed about the Build AI program and any updates through our social media accounts and the Aira Compass update.

How long will this program last? 

There is not a set timeline for this program, but it is a limited time offer. You can stay up to date on developments through our social media accounts and the Aira Compass update. 

Is Aira trying to replace visual interpreters with AI? 

The human experience with a visual interpreter is always at the core of Aira. As AI technology continues to advance, we recognize that there are some tasks and use cases it is very well suited for and some significant future potential. Human visual interpreters are also essential for many other tasks, and provide a high degree of trust and security. We envision a future at Aira with the best visual interpreters possible and the most advanced AI technology working seamlessly together. Whether you join the Build AI program or not, you will always have a choice over whether to work with AI or a human visual interpreter. 

Do you have additional questions? Please connect with Customer Care at support@aira.io