As 2023 comes to a close, one of the biggest stories of the year in the blind community is the continued growth of the Be My Eyes app. The app, which connects blind and visually impaired users with sighted volunteers for assistance through live video calls, has seen a surge in popularity and remains a vital resource for many.
The most significant development for Be My Eyes in 2023 was the introduction of their new Be My AI feature. This AI companion brings a new level of assistance to the app, utilizing artificial intelligence and computer vision to help blind people with tasks that were previously reliant on human volunteers.
In a recent episode of the Double Tap podcast, hosts Steven Scott and Shaun Preece discussed the growth and evolution of Be My Eyes with Mike Buckley, the CEO of the company, and Hans Wiberg, one of the original founders. They reflected on the app’s early days and how it has evolved from a simple idea of humans helping humans through an app to incorporating AI technology to assist blind and visually impaired people.
The Be My AI feature allows users to upload images and ask questions about the contents of the image. The AI provides responses based on its recognition and analysis of the image, offering information that may not have been readily available through human volunteers. Users also have the option to ask for a live volunteer’s assistance if they are not entirely convinced by the AI’s response, bridging the gap between AI and human interaction.
The Be My Eyes team is committed to maintaining the human aspect of the app while harnessing the potential of AI technology to enhance the user experience. While the AI feature brings new capabilities to the app, the human interaction and support from volunteers remain a crucial component of the service.