NYU Abu Dhabi today announced the launch of ChatSign, a commercially ready artificial intelligence (AI) system that delivers a step-change in real-time communication for sign language users.
ChatSign Technology is a new AI technology spin-out company from NYU Abu Dhabi, using cutting-edge AI research to deploy scalable technologies that transform everyday interactions for millions of people with hearing impairments, by bridging the gap between sign and speech.
Developed at NYU Abu Dhabi by founder and Scientific Advisor of ChatSign Technology, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director of the Embodied AI and Robotics Lab Yi Fang, together with co-founders, CEO Zhifei (Maggie) Li, NYUAD Class of 2026 with a double degree in Computer Science and Mathematics, and Chief Product Officer at ChatSign Technology and Senior Research Engineer at NYUAD Zhenhua Li — the ChatSign system translates spoken Arabic and English into sign language in real time, supporting both American Sign Language and Emirati Sign Language. Work is also nearing completion to bring both sign-to-speech and text-to-sign translation into real-world use.
Designed for use in environments such as government services, healthcare, education, tourism, transport hubs, and commercial spaces, ChatSign addresses a longstanding gap in accessibility, where interpreter availability remains limited, costly, and inconsistent.
Since its inception in 2024, ChatSign has progressed rapidly from research concept to functional prototype. The technology is patent-protected and received early validation through a live campus deployment in late 2025, during which the system delivered real-time translation to an audience of more than 200 students at an accessibility-focused event. ChatSign will be deployed at NYU Abu Dhabi’s 2026 Commencement Ceremony, where it will provide live speech-to-sign translation, supporting a more accessible and inclusive experience for attendees.
ChatSign has also showcased its technology at major national and regional events, including Make it in the Emirates, Dubai AI Week, and AccessAbilities Expo, and reached the semi-finals of the GITEX Expand North Star global startup competition. The company is currently in discussions with potential partners across sectors, countries, and continents as it prepares for pilot deployments.
ChatSign is actively collaborating and seeking further partner opportunities on data collection, validation, and pilot use cases across multiple sectors, targeting deployment across both physical and digital environments.
Looking ahead, ChatSign aims to expand pilot deployments across the UAE, with plans to scale regionally and internationally. By embedding accessibility into everyday environments, the platform aims to set a new standard for inclusive communication in the UAE and world-wide.
For more information, visit www.chatsign.ai or follow ChatSign Technology on LinkedIn.
