By Melania Watson
Publication Date: 2025-11-21 03:31:00
A practical question from a young family member has prompted Sydney-based platform Babeltext to rethink the accessibility of artificial intelligence and highlight the ongoing challenges faced by billions of people interacting with technology through simple phones and messaging apps.
Wider access
Babeltext’s approach is based on founder David Hayes’ insight that despite advances in telecommunications automation and intelligent networks, access to AI-driven services remains uneven worldwide. Hayes said the trigger was his 13-year-old granddaughter’s difficulty using AI on a simple phone. He then considered how many others might be excluded from easy access. According to GSMA Intelligence estimates for 2025, more than 6.9 billion people worldwide will use mobile devices, with most AI interactions now occurring via messaging or voice rather than traditional desktop interfaces.
Man and machine
Hayes identified a crucial gap: While many telecommunications networks operate intuitively behind the scenes,…
