Artificial Intelligence in Special Education: A Literature Review

Abstract

New avenues for communication with students who have special educational needs (SEN) have begun to open up because of innovative educational technology. The most successful strategies over the past 20 years (2001–2020) have been those that utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques. The quality of life for SEN students is thought to be improved by the efficient use of A.I. techniques. Therefore, it becomes necessary to implement A.I. approaches to design procedures for both diagnosis and intervention. In addition, the study focuses on assistive technology and provides information on the most pertinent research conducted over the previous 20 years for the earlier objectives. This paper also discusses the limitations of current AI use in special education, including the scarcity of intervention tools and the lack of standardized diagnostic methods. Furthermore, the review explores the unique challenges in developing countries in implementing AI-based solutions for special education. This review study advances the available research by reviewing the role of Large Language Models (LLMs) as an assistive technology while building on existing research that has acknowledged the much earlier potential of AI technologies to empower special education.