Shawn Keen: Hum a Song, Build the Future

In this episode of Blind Level Tech, host Evan Starnes sits down with Sean Keane, an accessibility professional, AI enthusiast, and founder of the AI for the Blind Club. Sean shares his journey from assistive technology trainer and nonprofit technology director to becoming deeply involved in artificial intelligence after a stroke changed how he interacts with computers.Sean explains how losing dexterity in one hand pushed him to experiment with AI tools like ChatGPT and Suno AI, ultimately discovering how generative AI could help him write, create music, and explore ideas more efficiently. What began as a practical solution quickly evolved into a creative outlet and a new way of thinking about technology.Throughout the conversation, Evan and Sean discuss the rapid evolution of generative AI, how blind users are uniquely positioned to benefit from text-driven tools, and why learning to prompt AI effectively is becoming an important skill. Sean also talks about his book The Hum Method, which teaches people how to turn musical ideas in their head into AI-generated songs, even if they aren’t musicians.The episode also highlights Sean’s growing community, the AI for the Blind Club, a private Facebook group with thousands of members where blind and low-vision users share AI tools, tips, and experiments. The group has grown from a small discussion space into a nonprofit resource helping people explore emerging technology.The conversation wraps up with a discussion of classic assistive technology, including early screen readers and computers like the Apple IIe, and the idea of bringing together longtime technology users for a panel about the evolution of accessible tech.Whether you’re curious about AI music generation, creative uses of generative models, or how technology can empower people after life-changing events, this episode explores how AI can open new doors for creativity and accessibility.Check out AI For the Blind Club at https://aiftb.comCreators & Guests Evan Starnes - Host ★ Support this podcast ★