Chinese entrepreneur Cheng Lu is developing an artificial intelligence tool aimed at bridging communication gaps between individuals who use sign language and those who communicate through speech. The project, called EchoBridge, leverages multimodal AI—capable of processing text, audio, images, and video—to facilitate translation among sign language, spoken language, and text, addressing longstanding accessibility challenges.
Cheng, a former Google developer relations program manager and a current Hugging Face Fellow, introduced EchoBridge amid a rapid expansion of AI applications worldwide. While many AI products to date have focused on improving productivity in areas such as coding assistance, content creation, and customer service, EchoBridge seeks to utilize AI’s multimodal capabilities to serve populations that have historically been underserved by technology.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 430 million people globally experience disabling hearing loss—a number expected to surpass 700 million by 2050. Although this statistic does not specifically account for sign language users, it underscores the scale of unmet needs in accessible communication, with unaddressed hearing loss estimated to result in a nearly $1 trillion annual global cost.
EchoBridge’s development aligns with initiatives outlined in China’s 2026 Government Work Report, which emphasizes expanding the integration of AI technologies across industries and promoting large-scale commercial applications. Cheng’s concept was recognized internationally, receiving an Honorable Mention in the social equity and accessibility category at Fast Company’s 2026 World Changing Ideas Awards ceremony held in New York on September 16.
Cheng’s engagement with developer communities and open-source AI projects has informed the project. During his tenure at Google, he launched Study Jams China, attracting nearly 4,000 participants over two editions, and worked on enterprise adoption of Flutter in China, collaborating with major technology firms. After leaving Google, Cheng deepened his involvement as a Hugging Face Fellow and as a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, observing the translation of AI research into practical tools.
Reflecting on his experience, Cheng noted that while many AI products aim to help users perform tasks more quickly and efficiently, EchoBridge represents a broader vision. “Can these same capabilities also help people who have historically benefited less from technological progress?” he said. By focusing on communication barriers, EchoBridge explores how emerging AI technologies can create new forms of interaction, applying tools often reserved for productivity gains to address long-standing challenges in accessibility and inclusion.