Accessibility and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Letter from the Editor

As the new Editor-In-Chief of IABC/Toronto’s Communicator for 2024-2025, I’m pleased to bring you a special edition of the Communicator with a focus on Accessibility and Artificial Intelligence (AI); two evolving topics that will change the way communications professionals approach their work.

Since ChatGPT came onto our computers in 2022, AI has made its way into our daily lives at lightning speed. AI’s impacts on our industry have been profound and I was happy to see IABC release its Guiding Principles for Ethical AI use by Communications Professionals in 2024 to help us adopt this new technology in a responsible manner. There is no doubt that AI is here to stay.

This issue takes a closer look at AI’s intersection with social media, corporate strategy development and cultural communications. We also look at how AI can help us be better professionals and offer tips to challenge ourselves, professionally and personally, in 2025.

In times of rapid change, it’s easy to feel left behind. It’s also easy to leave behind a portion of our audience that can’t consume media in the way we’ve published it. In this issue, you’ll learn practical ways to make your communications more inclusive and understand why AI provides only part of the answer.

One thing is clear, AI is not perfect and doesn’t have the human qualities of empathy or good judgement that drive an organization’s efforts to do the right thing. It will be up to communications professionals to bridge this gap. Our clients will look to us to implement this change and ensure their messaging continues to connect with their audiences.

What’s in store for generative AI into 2025? I asked ChatGPT and here’s what it told me:

In 2025, the role of communicators will be at the intersection of technology, ethics, strategy, and human connection. They will need to balance the advantages of new tools and platforms with a focus on authentic, purposeful messaging that resonates with audiences. While much of the industry will be shaped by technological advances, the human touch—empathy, authenticity, and trust—will remain at the heart of effective communication. Communicators will be essential in shaping the future narrative, ensuring transparency, and bridging divides in a rapidly changing world.

There you have it, right from the source!

Let me know what you think about this issue.  Please email me at IABC@toronto-editor.com.  If you’re interested in contributing to IABC/Toronto’s Communicator or have ideas for future issues, please drop me a line.

Kind regards,

Linda Bicho-Vachon
Editor-in-Chief, Communicator

The views and opinions expressed by the author do not reflect those of IABC/Toronto. The chapter encourages diverse voices, providing a platform for communication professionals to contribute, abiding by IABC code of ethics.