AACessTalk helps autistic children with limited speech and their parents have easier, more natural conversations, supporting self-expression and closer connections at home.

AACessTalk is a new AI-powered communication app designed to help minimally verbal autistic (MVA) children and their parents have more natural and meaningful conversations. Instead of relying on spoken words, children use visual cards displayed on a tablet to express their emotions, interests, and thoughts. In turn, the app suggests context-appropriate phrases and responses for parents, helping them engage more easily and effectively in the conversation.

One of AACessTalk’s most unique features is a “turn pass” button that clearly signals whose turn it is to speak. This simple mechanism empowers children to start or end conversations on their own terms—something that’s often difficult in traditional parent-child interactions. For example, if a child selects cards like “Playground” and “Happy,” the app may prompt the parent to respond with a question such as “What did you enjoy the most?” Conversely, if the child taps a card that says “What about you, Mom?” the parent is encouraged to share their own thoughts, turning the interaction into a two-way conversation.

① The home screen, where users select conversation topics. Selecting ‘Plan’ (Blue) or ‘Recall’ (Green) topics immediately begins the conversation, while ‘Interest’ (Orange) presents a pop-up ⓐ with the child’s pre-uploaded interests for further selection.
② The parent's turn screen, which provides ⓑ conversation guides and ⓒ example phrases for the parent.
③ The parent speaks to the child and then

④ presses the turn-pass button to end their turn.
⑤ The child's turn screen, which offers vocabulary cards for the child.
⑥ The child presses the turn-pass button to end their turn.
⑦ If a negative conversational pattern is detected in the parent’s previous turn, AACessTalk shows ⓓ feedback during the next parent turn ⑧.
After several iterations of turn-taking, i.e., ②–⑥, either the parent or the child ends the conversation ⑨ via menu ⓔ.

AACessTalk was developed to overcome the limitations of traditional AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) tools, which often rely on paper cards or fixed word sets that don’t reflect a child’s real-time feelings or evolving interests. In contrast, AACessTalk uses AI to analyze the flow of the conversation and the child’s personal preferences, offering personalized vocabulary suggestions on the spot.

During a two-week in-home trial, 11 parent-child pairs used AACessTalk and engaged in more than 230 conversations. The average number of conversational turn-takings jumped from nearly zero to 2.6 per session. In many cases, children began to take the lead, asking questions or choosing their favorite topics—showing signs of increased confidence and agency in communication.

AACessTalk is the result of a collaborative effort involving KAIST, NAVER AI Lab, and Dodakim Child Development Center. The research team is currently exploring ways to make the app widely available. In the near future, it’s expected to be used not only at home but also in kindergartens, schools, and community centers—offering new ways for neurodiverse children and families to connect.