AccessNow: Harnessing AI to Power the Future of Accessibility

In partnership with Google, AccessNow is unlocking new ways to deliver smarter accessibility insights with AI.

When AccessNow first launched in 2015, our vision was bold: to answer every access inquiry, for every place on earth. It was a dream born from lived experience and a deep need for reliable information about accessibility in the world around us.

Over the past 10 years, we’ve built a global community of people mapping accessibility together. Every contribution, every review, and every story shared has helped make the invisible visible. We’ve learned, iterated, and grown smarter about ensuring that the disability community can access information that is accurate, trustworthy, and reflective of diverse lived experiences.

Today, we’re thrilled to share the next big milestone in our journey with Google: harnessing the power of AI to generate smarter insights on accessibility everywhere.

Why AI Matters for Accessibility

Accessibility is not one-size-fits-all. A ramp, an elevator, or a braille menu might matter deeply to one person and not at all to another. What’s essential is context, clarity, and trust.

With Google AI, AccessNow can now summarize and share accessibility information in new ways. This makes it easier and faster for people to get the insights that matter most to them. This step forward means that information becomes not only more available, but also more usable and relevant.

And this is just the beginning. From smarter accessibility summaries in place listings to exploring how emerging technologies like image recognition may support new breakthroughs, AI will help us deliver more intuitive, personalized answers about places everywhere. We’ll share more as these innovations roll out.

The impact goes beyond technology. Better accessibility insights mean people can move through the world with greater confidence, freedom, and choice.

AI won’t replace the voices of our community. It will amplify them. Every lived experience shared on AccessNow continues to fuel our platform. With AI, we can translate those contributions into concise, meaningful insights for millions around the world.

A Journey with Google

Our path with Google has been a part of this story.

In 2021, we joined the Google for Startups Accelerator, where we connected with mentors, technologists, and a network of peers who helped us think bigger about the role of technology in scaling accessibility worldwide. That experience expanded our vision and gave us the tools to dream bigger.

Over the years, we’ve also collaborated with Google Maps to bring accessibility details directly into the everyday tools people use to navigate. This partnership helped broaden the reach of accessibility information, ensuring that millions more people can access details that matter for their daily lives.

Now, in 2025, we’re building on that foundation and stepping into a new chapter together: exploring how AI can unlock even deeper, smarter insights on accessibility everywhere.

Looking Ahead

This partnership with Google marks an exciting chapter in our mission to make the world more accessible. It’s a continuation of a relationship built on shared values: innovation, inclusion, and a belief in technology’s power to drive positive change.

Our goal remains the same: to answer every access question for every place on earth. With AI, we are closer than ever to realizing that vision.

We’re grateful to the team at Google for their collaboration, and to our community for continuing to believe in this mission. Together, we’re proving that accessibility really is the future.

👉 See our story featured in Google’s Canadian Innovation campaign: g.co/canadianinnovation