The purpose of generative AI is to generate the most statistically likely output. In human terms, that means mediocrity at scale, not diversity, says Paul Armstrong

Corporate diversity has turned into performance art. Generative AI now makes accessibility look effortless as captions appear automatically, transcripts compile themselves and summaries glow with the language of clarity. Every dashboard screams inclusion, yet the output often distorts meaning, erases nuance and misrepresents identity. Businesses think they are building bridges; in reality, they are installing mirrors. Technology that promises to open doors is quietly narrowing the frame of who gets seen and how.

Corporate leaders love metrics because metrics give the illusion of progress. AI has supercharged that illusion. Accessibility scores rise, inclusion reports grow glossier and no one checks whether the experience behind the numbers has actually improved. Algorithms trained on the narrowest slices of humanity now translate, caption and summarise for the world. The result is not inclusion but homogeneity disguised as help. The diversity wallpaper looks good from a distance; up close, it is peeling.

The economics of fake empathy

The business case for accessibility is vast. The Valuable 500 estimates the global disability and inclusion market at £13 trillion. That figure is now quoted in every corporate deck about AI for good. Companies chasing it often invest more in optics than outcomes. Automation feels efficient, but AI systems built to remove friction also remove individuality. Translation models trained to neutralise cultural bias flatten tone, humour and dialect. Captioning software built for clarity sanitises emotion and strips personality from speech.

The Trump administration’s aggressive rollback of diversity and inclusion initiatives in the US has sent shockwaves through global boardrooms, prompting reversals and strategic hesitation from companies wary of political reprisal. The chill is spreading faster than the policy, and it shows in how many companies now talk........

© City A.M.