Tech Giants Face Existential Crises Amid AI and Accessibility Concerns

The tech world is abuzz with news of existential crises facing some of its biggest players. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has been working to reassure investors that the company's business model is not under threat from the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Meanwhile, AI startup Anthropic is staring down a Friday deadline to remove restrictions on how the US Department of War can use its technology, or risk being labelled a "supply chain risk" and potentially crippling its business.

But amidst these high-stakes battles, a quieter crisis is brewing. Experts are highlighting the emotional barriers to accessibility, and how design can either remove stigma or perpetuate it. As one expert notes, "shame is one of the most powerful barriers to product adoption," and it's rarely discussed in design reviews.

Salesforce's Benioff has been keen to emphasize that this isn't the company's first rodeo when it comes to disruption. "This isn't our first SaaSpocalypse," he said, referencing the company's experience with previous technological shifts. But the current AI landscape is undoubtedly different, and Benioff's words will do little to quell investor concerns if the company's earnings don't match up.

Anthropic, on the other hand, is facing a very different kind of crisis. The company has been told by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to remove restrictions on how its AI models can be used by the Department of War. Specifically, Hegseth wants Anthropic to stipulate that its technology can be used for "any lawful purpose" that the department wishes to pursue. This would include mass surveillance and the development of lethal autonomous weapons, which can make decisions to attack without human intervention.

Anthropic's current contracts prohibit such uses, but Hegseth has threatened to not only cancel the company's existing $200 million contract but also label it a "supply chain risk" if it doesn't comply. This would effectively cripple Anthropic's business, making it impossible for the company to work with other government agencies or contractors.

As the deadline looms, Anthropic is facing an impossible choice. On the one hand, complying with Hegseth's demands would mean sacrificing the company's values and potentially contributing to the development of autonomous weapons. On the other hand, refusing to comply would put the company's very existence at risk.

But amidst these high-stakes battles, it's worth taking a step back to consider the human side of innovation. As experts note, accessibility is often treated as a technical problem, but it's much more complex than that. Many products fail not because they don't function, but because they make the user feel singled out.

Design has the power to remove stigma, but it requires a deep understanding of the emotional barriers to adoption. As one expert notes, "if we want accessible design to succeed, and we want people to get the utility of these products, we have to design beyond function. We have to design for dignity."

In other words, the biggest barrier to accessibility is not usability, but shame. People delay using products that would improve their daily lives because they don't want to be seen as different. This is a problem that tech companies can't solve alone, but it's one that they can contribute to by designing products that prioritize dignity and inclusivity.

As the tech world continues to grapple with the challenges of AI and accessibility, it's worth remembering that innovation is not just about solving technical problems, but about creating products that respect and empower human beings. Whether it's Salesforce, Anthropic, or any other company, the key to success lies not just in the technology itself, but in the values and principles that guide its development.