Generative AI use by blind and low vision software professionals in the workplace

The software development workplace poses numerous technical and collaborative accessibility challenges for blind and low vision software professionals (BLVSPs). Though Generative AI (GenAI) is increasingly adopted within the software development industry and has been a rapidly growing topic of interest in research, to date, the unique perspectives of BLVSPs have yet to be consulted. We report on a qualitative study involving 39 semi-structured interviews with BLVSPs about what the introduction of GenAI has meant for their work. We found that BLVSPs used GenAI for many software development tasks, resulting in benefits such as increased productivity and accessibility. However, significant costs were also accompanied by GenAI use, as they were more vulnerable to hallucinations than their sighted colleagues. Sometimes, organizational policies prevented use. Based on our findings, we discuss the higher-risks and higher-returns that BLVSPs had to carefully weigh when deciding whether and when..., Data Preparation
The researchers developed the interview protocols before the semi-structured interviews. The Study_1 protocol was used to interview 30 participants in an earlier study that subsequently formed part of this one. The Study_2 protocol was used to interview nine additional participants and to re-interview some of the previous 30 participants. 
Data Collection
The demographic data in this dataset were collected during the study's recruitment process.
The accompanying research paper provides further details on the research method, including participant recruitment.
, # Data from: \"Game Changer\" or \"Overenthusiastic Drunk Acquaintance\"? Generative AI Use by Blind and Low Vision Software Professionals in the Workplace

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.gmsbcc313](10.5061/dryad.gmsbcc313)

## Overview

This dataset consists of four files relevant to the research conducted for the \"Game Changer\" or \"Overenthusiastic Drunk Acquaintance\"? Generative AI Use by Blind and Low Vision Software Professionals in the Workplace paper, accepted into the 48th International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE).

The interview-based study consisted of semi-structured interviews with 39 Blind and Low Vision Software Professionals (BLVSPs) about their use of GenAI in the workplace.

The study's goal was to understand how BLVSPs used GenAI in the workplace and identify the benefits and challenges of AI use. Specifically, the study answered two research questions:

* RQ1: How do BLVSPs perceive and utilize generative AI in the workplace?
* RQ2:  How do generative AI tools ..., The data contains a table of de-identified demographic information about the interview participants. Each participant was provided with a unique participation identifier to be referred to in research papers and in the included data file. No personal identifiable information is shared. The study followed the University of California, Irvine's (UCI) Human Research Protection protocols and was approved by UCI's Institutional Review Board (IRB). All participants provided informed consent to participate in the study.