The power of AI is revolutionizing the world into breakthroughs that seem to be impossible. With AI assistants, blind people can soon have hopes to enjoy the beauty of the world-something that they couldn't do before.
The cutting-edge technologies, such as Ask Envision and Be My Eyes, integrated with OpenAI's GPT-4 model, are empowering users to perceive and understand the world around them with unprecedented clarity and independence.
AI Can Help Visually-Impaired People Describe Images and Texts
With the transformative capability of AI, users can now access specific information effortlessly. One thing that's impressive behind these tools is their ability to provide detailed descriptions of images and text or the so-called text-to-image feature.
Whether it's reading menus, identifying objects, or even summarizing text, these AI-powered tools enable visually impaired individuals to navigate their surroundings with enhanced confidence and ease, per WIRED.
Imagine being able to utilize Ask Envision seamlessly with a simple tap on a Google Glass device, freeing up hands for other tasks. With the ability to jump to specific parts of the text, users like Richard Beardsley, who is an early tester of Ask Vision can access crucial information on bills or ingredient lists. That's a significant upgrade for his life.
"Before, you couldn't jump to a specific part of the text," he says. "Having this really makes life a lot easier because you can jump to exactly what you're looking for," Beardsley said.
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Blind Community Can Freely Interact with the Environment With AI
The integration of AI into assistive technologies has unlocked incredible potential for the visually impaired community.
Expert Sina Bahram, an accessibility advocate, hails the adoption of GPT-4 in tools like Be My Eyes as a monumental leap forward. The comprehensive information provided by these advanced language models empowers users to explore and interact with their environment in ways previously unimaginable.
Real-life stories of identifying collections of stickers or deciphering graffiti on the streets demonstrate the remarkable level of detail now accessible to individuals with visual impairments.
Of course, all technologies are not smoothly operating and some of them have flaws. It is essential to address certain challenges associated with AI technology.
Another expert, Danna Gurari who works as an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Colorado at Boulder, emphasizes the importance of ensuring the accuracy and reliability of AI models.
Blind users should exercise caution when making decisions based on AI-generated descriptions to avoid potential misinformation. By continuously refining these systems and enhancing their accuracy, we can ensure a safer and more reliable experience for visually impaired individuals.
