SWOT and ethical analysis of GenAI in aphasia (Bailey et al., 2026)

Purpose: Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is rapidly emerging as a transformative technology in aphasia management, necessitating judicious and structured evaluation. The purpose of this clinical focus article is to apply a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis framework to systematically evaluate the potential role and implications of GenAI tools in aphasia management and to offer preliminary ethical considerations and recommendations for their responsible use in clinical contexts.Method: This clinical focus article offers initial SWOT analysis of GenAI tools by members of a GenAI in aphasia management working group. The clinical domains within the analysis include screening and assessment, intervention, augmentative and alternative communication and digital accessibility, counseling and care partner education, and clinical documentation.Results: The SWOT analysis identified GenAI’s potential for enhancing screening and assessment, personalizing treatment, supporting care partners, and streamlining clinical documentation. The analysis also highlighted issues related to problematic outputs; digital literacy requirements; vulnerability to deepfakes, phishing, and medical misinformation; economic and accessibility constraints; and concerns over autonomy and privacy. Preliminary ethical analysis was subsequently performed to establish a basis for ethical uses of GenAI in aphasia management, despite the dynamic nature of the GenAI landscape.Conclusions: GenAI presents valuable opportunities to advance aphasia management, but substantial weaknesses and threats underscore the need for cautious integration into clinical practice. Proactive collaboration among clinicians, people with aphasia, institutions, and policymakers is necessary to help maximize clinical benefits while preserving essential human elements in aphasia care and addressing concerns related to patient privacy and accessibility.Supplemental Material S1. Consent form.Bailey, D. J., Anjum, J., Park, H., Carpenter, E., Mamlekar, C., & Kurland, J. (2026). A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis of generative artificial intelligence in aphasia management with proposed ethical guidelines. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 35(2), 402–421. https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_AJSLP-25-00262