#DearAI: Image library aims to improve AI representation of people with prostheses

29.07.2026

People with disabilities are often underrepresented or inaccurately portrayed in AI-generated images. With the #DearAI initiative, Ottobock has launched an open image library developed together with prosthesis users to help AI systems generate more authentic representations of people with upper and lower limb prostheses. Microsoft provided the technology powering the platform.

In brief: Better representation in AI-generated images

Ottobock has launched the #DearAI Community Library, an open dataset for AI systems.
The dataset was developed and annotated together with people using upper and lower limb prostheses.
The initiative aims to improve how people with prostheses and limb differences are represented in AI-generated images.

When artificial intelligence (AI) falls short on representation

Anyone using AI tools to generate images of people with prostheses will often encounter unrealistic results. Instead of depicting everyday situations, AI may produce anatomically incorrect bodies, science-fiction-inspired imagery or exaggerated "cyborg" aesthetics. According to Ottobock, one of the main reasons is that people with disabilities remain underrepresented or are portrayed only from a limited perspective in the datasets used to train many AI models.

A scientific analysis published in 2025 highlights the scale of the issue. Among 444 AI-generated images representing 37 different professions, not a single image featured a person with a visible disability. When disability was depicted, it was overwhelmingly represented by manual wheelchair users, while people with amputations or congenital limb differences were largely absent.

"For us, it's not just about creating better AI images. It's about who will be visible in the digital world of tomorrow – and who won't," says Martin Böhm, Chief Experience Officer at Ottobock.

Two people with upper limb prostheses sit together at a dining table while AI labels highlight prostheses and other visual elements in the image.

The #DearAI Community Library contains everyday images of people with prostheses enriched with additional information for AI training. This helps AI systems recognize bodies, prostheses and everyday situations more accurately and generate more authentic representations. © Ottobock

Community builds an image library for more authentic AI images

To address this gap, Ottobock has introduced the #DearAI Community Library, an open dataset designed to provide AI systems with more realistic visual references of people with upper and lower limb prostheses. Microsoft supported the project by providing the technology behind the platform.

More than 60 prosthesis users from around the world contributed images and videos from their everyday lives. Together, they defined what respectful and authentic representation should look like and annotated the selected content for AI training.

The project resulted in two datasets containing around 800 images in total:

People with upper limb differences
People with lower limb differences

The datasets are available free of charge on Hugging Face and are intended for researchers, developers, companies, creative professionals and others working with AI.

According to Ottobock, the project follows a simple principle: involving people with disabilities not only as subjects, but as active contributors to the development process. Paralympic swimmer and TV presenter Andreas Onea was among those who helped shape the Community Library by sharing his own experiences.

"If you aren't visible, you don't exist," says Onea. "We want to show AI models that people with disabilities are part of our world and our society. We are involved, we are contributing – and that is exactly what needs to be visible in AI images."

With #DearAI, Ottobock continues its commitment to improving visibility and inclusion, this time focusing on how people with disabilities are represented in generative AI.

REHACARE.com; Source: Ottobock

Nadine Lormis smiles in to the camera; Copyright: Victoria Emanuel

Editor: Nadine Lormis | REHACARE eMag

Nadine Lormis has been writing about (digital) developments in the assistive technology sector, self-determined living and inclusion for over 15 years. As editorial director of the REHACARE eMag, she is closely networked with the community of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses – both professionally and personally.