Request for Information (RFI) on Accessible Digital Technologies including Artificial Intelligence Systems

To support the development of the next phase of regulations, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is launching this RFI to gather information from digital technology vendors and suppliers on their current accessibility-related capabilities, practices, implementation challenges, and readiness with respect to artificial intelligence (AI) systems, software, and hardware. The RFI seeks information on: • Current accessibility capabilities, policies, and practices relating to software, hardware, and AI systems; • Conformance with relevant accessibility standards and specifications for software, hardware, and AI systems; • Approaches to incorporating accessibility throughout the product lifecycle, including design, development, testing, deployment, and procurement; • Barriers, implementation challenges, and considerations associated with achieving accessibility; and, • Organizational readiness to meet potential future accessibility requirements. The information collected through this process will help inform the development of the next phase of Digital Technologies Accessibility Regulations under the ACA.