New app uses artificial intelligence

A new app designed by Microsoft is helping blind people see the world around them. 

In March of last year, Microsoft showed off a prototype of its app which uses articificial intelligence (AI). This week the app, Seeing AI, has been released in the US but a date for its UK launch is yet to be announced. 

The app uses your smartphone's camera to identify things in your environment, such as people and objects.

The app works in a number of scenarios. As well as recognising people it’s seen before and guessing strangers’ age and emotion, it can identify household products by scanning barcodes. It also reads and scans documents. 

Business Insider article: Microsoft just released an incredible new app that helps blind people see the world around them