AI-powered sign language
We're proud to share that one of our directors has been co-leading a major step forward in the future of sign language translation with AI.
Last week was New Zealand Sign Language Week – a time to celebrate one of Aotearoa’s official languages and honour the communities who use it every day.
We’re proud to spotlight the groundbreaking work of Kara Technologies, co-founded by our board member Dr. Arash Tayebi, alongside Farmehr Farhour and Sahar Izadi.
Kara Technologies is revolutionising accessibility by developing a system that uses hyper-realistic digital humans to translate content into New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) and other sign languages such as American Sign Language (ASL). This innovation is helping make digital content more inclusive for the Deaf community, ensuring equal access to information and services.
Their journey began at the University of Auckland’s Velocity entrepreneurship programme, where they won the 2017 $100K Challenge in the social category. With backing from the University of Auckland Inventors’ Fund and ongoing collaboration with the Deaf community, Kara Technologies continues to push the boundaries of assistive tech.
Most recently, Kara Technologies was awarded the Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Good at the 2024 New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards. This success reflects the collective efforts of many, including Deaf community members who helped shape and test the technology.
Together, they’ve shown what’s possible when inclusion, lived experience, and cutting-edge technology come together to break down barriers.
Learn more at Kara Tech.