What is Seeing AI?
Seeing AI is a free mobile app from Microsoft, built with and for people who are blind or have low vision. You point your phone camera at something and the app speaks out what it sees, turning visual information into audio.
It can read short text as soon as it appears in front of the camera, guide you to capture a full printed document, describe photos and scenes, recognise products by scanning barcodes, describe people and identify banknotes in several currencies. It runs on iPhone and Android and is an ongoing Microsoft AI research project.
Main Features
- Reads short text aloud instantly
- Document mode with audio guidance
- Describes scenes and photos
- Identifies products from barcodes
- Describes people nearby
- Recognises banknotes
How to Get Started with Seeing AI
- Download Seeing AI from the App Store or Google Play.
- Open the app and choose a mode, such as Short Text.
- Point your phone camera at the text, object or scene.
- Listen as Seeing AI describes what it sees.
Seeing AI Pricing
Seeing AI is completely free, with no paid plan or in-app subscription.
Who Should Use It?
- People who are blind
- People with low vision
- Older adults with failing eyesight
- Carers and family members
- Accessibility trainers
Seeing AI Alternatives
- Be My Eyes: Connects blind users with volunteers and AI for visual help.
- Google Lens (Translate): Reads and translates text through your camera.
- Ohai: AI assistant for everyday household tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seeing AI free?
Yes. Seeing AI is a free app from Microsoft with no paid tier.
Is Seeing AI on Android?
Yes. It is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Can Seeing AI read printed documents?
Yes. Its document mode gives audio cues to help you line up the page, then reads it aloud.