Be My AI for Nonprofits: Free AI Visual Assistant for Blind Users
A completely free AI-powered visual assistant built into the Be My Eyes app, using OpenAI's GPT-4 to describe images, read text, and answer questions for people who are blind or have low vision. 750,000+ blind users and 8.3 million volunteers worldwide.
What It Does
Does your nonprofit serve community members who are blind or have low vision? Or does your organization have staff, volunteers, or program participants who rely on visual assistance throughout their day? Be My AI is a free, AI-powered tool built into the Be My Eyes mobile app that gives blind and low-vision individuals immediate, on-demand access to visual interpretation, without waiting for a human volunteer to answer.
Powered by OpenAI's GPT-4 vision capabilities, Be My AI works by letting users take a photo through the app, which the AI then analyzes and describes in natural language. Users can continue the conversation, asking follow-up questions like "What does the label say?" or "Is the shirt red or maroon?" or "Which bus stop is this?" The experience is conversational, patient, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For nonprofits, Be My AI matters in two distinct ways. First, it is a transformative free resource that organizations serving blind and low-vision populations can recommend to clients, program participants, and community members as a daily independence tool. Second, Be My Eyes offers enterprise accessibility products for organizations wanting to make their own customer service or program delivery more accessible to blind and low-vision individuals.
Quick Win: Share This Resource Today
If your nonprofit serves people who are blind or have low vision, you can provide value to your community right now by sharing Be My Eyes (iOS and Android, completely free). Be My AI is already built into the app. No setup, no account, no cost. For many individuals, this single recommendation could transform how they navigate daily tasks independently.
Best For
Organization Types
- Organizations serving blind and low-vision populations
- Disability services nonprofits and independent living centers
- Any nonprofit that employs staff or volunteers with visual impairments
- Organizations wanting to improve accessible customer service delivery
Use Cases
- Recommending a free daily-independence tool to program participants
- Supporting staff or volunteers who are blind to work more independently
- Building accessible customer service capacity via enterprise tools
- Technology education programs teaching AI tools for accessibility
Ideal Roles
Program managers at disability services organizations, technology trainers, assistive technology specialists, executive directors looking to promote accessibility in operations, and HR staff supporting inclusive workplaces for employees with visual impairments.
Key Features for Nonprofits
Be My AI: On-Demand Visual Assistance
GPT-4 powered image description, 100% free
- Instant photo description: menus, product labels, documents, signage, clothing
- Conversational follow-up questions to get exactly the information needed
- 24/7 availability without waiting for a human volunteer
- Text reading from photos (mail, receipts, instructions, bills)
- Seamless fallback to human volunteers if AI assistance is insufficient
Human Volunteer Network
8.3 million sighted volunteers for complex situations
- Live video calling with sighted volunteers for nuanced, emotional, or complex tasks
- Specialized Help from company partners (Microsoft, Google, Spotify, and more)
- Multilingual volunteer support across dozens of languages
- Global community spanning 150+ countries
Enterprise Accessibility Suite
For organizations wanting to serve blind and low-vision customers
- Service Directory: Free listing to connect blind users with accessible support desks
- Service AI: 24/7 accessible AI customer service resolving up to 90% of inquiries automatically
- Service Connect: Dedicated accessible customer service agents with one-way video and two-way voice
- Supports European Accessibility Act (EAA) compliance for organizations serving EU audiences
Workplace Visual Assistance
AI-powered support for blind employees and volunteers
- AI visual interpretation for on-screen content, documents, and workplace tools
- Instant access to sighted colleagues via the app for visual tasks
- Reduces friction for blind employees to work independently
- Supported by notable enterprise partners: Microsoft, Hilton, Sony, Spotify
How Be My AI Uses AI
What's Actually AI-Powered
GPT-4 Vision: Multimodal Image Understanding
Be My AI is powered by OpenAI's GPT-4 model with vision capabilities, meaning the AI can simultaneously process both images and natural language. When a user takes a photo, GPT-4 analyzes the visual content and generates a detailed description in natural language. Unlike simple object detection tools, GPT-4 understands context: it can describe the overall scene, read embedded text, identify spatial relationships between objects, and answer nuanced follow-up questions like "Is the document signed?" or "What color are the shoes next to the door?"
Conversational Context Retention
Unlike a one-shot image description service, Be My AI maintains conversational context within a session. If a user asks "What does the label say?" and then follows up with "What is the serving size and calories?", the AI understands both questions refer to the same image and nutrition label without the user needing to re-explain. This conversational memory is powered by GPT-4's large context window, making the experience feel natural rather than mechanical.
Service AI: Automated Accessible Customer Service
For enterprise customers, Be My Eyes' Service AI uses vision AI and large language models to resolve up to 90% of inquiries from blind and low-vision customers without human intervention. The AI interprets visual content that customers share, understands the support request, and provides a response, escalating to a human agent only when needed. This allows organizations to offer genuinely accessible customer service at scale without requiring dedicated staff for every interaction.
What's NOT AI (But Still Valuable)
- Human volunteer calls: The core Be My Eyes volunteer service uses human judgment and empathy, not AI
- Specialized Help directory: Routes users to trained company support agents (human), not AI
- Service Connect: Enterprise product using dedicated human accessible service agents with video support
AI Limitations to Know
- No live video: Be My AI works from still photos only, not live video like volunteer calls. For real-time guidance while walking or navigating, users still need human volunteers.
- GPT-4 knowledge cutoff: The AI may not know about very recent products, names, or events. For current or time-sensitive information, a human volunteer may be more reliable.
- Image quality dependent: Blurry, poorly lit, or highly complex photos may result in less accurate descriptions. Good lighting significantly improves results.
- No persistent memory across sessions: Each conversation starts fresh. The AI does not remember previous conversations or build a profile of the user's preferences over time.
Real-World Nonprofit Use Case
Consider an independent living center serving adults who are blind or have low vision. Their technology training program historically focused on screen readers and specialized devices, often leaving participants with incomplete guidance on newer AI tools that could dramatically expand their independence.
After a technology trainer introduced Be My AI in a group session, participants immediately identified personal use cases: one participant photographed a confusing medication label and got an instant, detailed reading; another used it to identify whether clothing colors matched for a job interview; a third got help reading a handwritten note from a neighbor. Within the first week, participants who had initially struggled with technology were independently using Be My AI multiple times daily.
The nonprofit also realized Be My AI could improve their own service delivery. Case managers who visited homebound clients could use the app to help clients read important mail, verify prescription information, or navigate product packaging during home visits, all without needing specialized devices or scheduled volunteer calls. The zero-cost barrier meant the program could be incorporated into client onboarding immediately.
Separately, the organization explored Be My Eyes' Service Directory to list their accessible phone support services, making it easier for blind individuals in their region to find them through the app's directory rather than relying on web searches. This created a new, accessible channel for prospective clients to connect with the organization.
Pricing
Be My AI (Consumer) - Free
For blind and low-vision individuals
- $0 forever, no subscription, no usage limits
- Available on iOS and Android (free download)
- Includes Be My AI, volunteer calling, and Specialized Help
- No account required beyond basic app sign-up
Enterprise Products - Custom Pricing
For businesses and organizations
- Service Directory: Free listing for accessible service desks
- Service AI: Custom pricing (standalone AI accessible customer service)
- Service Connect: Custom pricing (human agent video support)
- Contact Be My Eyes business team for enterprise quotes
Why Is the Consumer App Free?
Be My Eyes is a social enterprise. The consumer app (Be My AI and volunteer calling) is free for blind and low-vision users and is subsidized by revenue from the enterprise products (Service AI, Service Connect) sold to businesses like Microsoft, Hilton, Google, and Spotify. This model has proven sustainable, with the company raising $6.1 million in funding in 2024 to accelerate its AI products. The free consumer product is the mission; the enterprise products fund that mission.
Note: Prices may be outdated or inaccurate. Enterprise pricing is not publicly listed and changes based on volume and requirements. Verify current pricing directly with Be My Eyes.
Nonprofit Pricing
100% free for end users; enterprise pricing available for organizations
The Be My Eyes app and Be My AI are completely free for blind and low-vision individuals, making it one of the most accessible AI tools available regardless of an organization's budget. There is nothing to purchase, no discount to apply for, and no limitations on usage for individual users.
For nonprofits considering enterprise products to improve their own accessible service delivery, Be My Eyes does not publish a standard nonprofit discount. However, as a social enterprise with a mission focus on accessibility, the business team is approachable about nonprofit and NGO pricing. The Service Directory listing is offered at no cost as a starting point for organizations wanting to appear in the Be My Eyes accessible services hub.
How Nonprofits Can Get Started at No Cost:
- Recommend the free Be My Eyes app to program participants, clients, and community members
- List your organization's accessible support services in the free Service Directory
- Include Be My AI in technology training curricula for blind and low-vision populations
- Contact Be My Eyes business team about enterprise discounts for nonprofits with a mission-aligned accessibility focus
Learning Curve
Beginner-Friendly for End Users
Designed for accessibility from the ground up
Be My AI is specifically designed to be usable by people who are blind or have low vision, meaning the app itself is screen-reader compatible and does not require visual navigation to operate. The learning curve for end users is intentionally low: download the app, navigate to Be My AI, take a photo, and ask a question. Most users are productive within minutes of first use.
Time to Value:
- App download and setup: 5-10 minutes
- First Be My AI interaction: Under 2 minutes after setup
- Learning conversational prompting: 1-2 days of use to understand how to ask for the most useful descriptions
Tips for Getting Better Descriptions:
- Take photos in good lighting for more accurate results
- Ask specific follow-up questions ("What are the ingredients?") rather than waiting for the AI to cover everything
- For text-heavy documents, ask the AI to read a specific section ("Read the middle column")
Integration & Compatibility
Platform Availability
- iOS: Available on iPhone and iPad (fully VoiceOver compatible)
- Android: Available on Android phones (TalkBack compatible)
- Languages: App available in multiple languages; GPT-4 supports dozens of languages
- Countries: Available globally in 150+ countries
Accessibility Standards
- Built from the ground up for screen reader compatibility (VoiceOver, TalkBack)
- Enterprise products designed to support European Accessibility Act (EAA) compliance
- Co-developed with the blind and low-vision community
Enterprise Integration Options
- Service AI can be integrated with existing customer service workflows
- Service Connect routes calls to dedicated accessible service teams
- Enterprise integration details available through direct contact with Be My Eyes business team
Privacy & Data
- Images processed via OpenAI's API (subject to OpenAI privacy policy)
- Be My Eyes has GDPR-compliant data processing in place
- Avoid photographing highly sensitive documents (banking info, SSNs) via any third-party AI service
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Genuinely free, no strings attached: No subscription, no trial period, no usage caps for end users
- Powered by GPT-4: One of the most capable AI vision models available, providing nuanced, contextual image understanding
- Built for accessibility from day one: The app itself is screen-reader compatible, unlike many AI tools that are inaccessible to their intended beneficiaries
- Complements human volunteers: AI handles routine requests 24/7 while volunteers handle complex, sensitive, or relationship-based tasks
- Massive global community: 750,000+ blind users and 8.3M volunteers means the platform has scale, stability, and continued investment
- Reduces isolation: Provides blind and low-vision individuals independence and connection without requiring family or staff assistance for visual tasks
Cons
- Photo-only, no live video: Cannot provide real-time visual guidance the way human volunteer calls can, limiting use for navigation and mobility tasks
- Enterprise pricing not transparent: Organizations interested in Service AI or Service Connect must contact sales, with no public pricing to evaluate fit
- No memory across sessions: Blind users cannot set preferences or have the AI learn their specific naming conventions or personal context over time
- Requires smartphone: Not accessible to individuals without a smartphone, an important consideration for nonprofits serving elderly or low-income populations
- Image quality dependency: Poor lighting or camera stability significantly reduces description accuracy; some users may need assistance learning photo-taking techniques
Alternatives to Consider
Seeing AI (Microsoft)
Free AI visual assistant from Microsoft for iOS and Android
Microsoft's Seeing AI is a free app specifically built for blind and low-vision users, with features including short text reading, document scanning, product barcode recognition, person description, scene description, currency identification, light detection, and color identification. Like Be My AI, it is completely free and screen-reader compatible. Seeing AI does not include a human volunteer network but provides specialized channels (like barcode scanning and light detection) that Be My AI does not. Consider recommending both apps to program participants so they can use whichever is best suited for different tasks.
Envision AI
AI visual assistant with smart glasses hardware option
Envision offers both a free app and a premium hardware option (Envision Glasses, powered by smart glasses hardware) that allows hands-free visual assistance for blind and low-vision users. The app includes AI scene description, text reading, face recognition, and object identification. The free app tier has limited usage; premium plans start around $10/month. The glasses hardware provides a significantly different experience for users who benefit from always-on, hands-free assistance. Consider Envision if program participants need a higher level of independence for workplace or navigation tasks.
Lookout by Google
Free AI visual assistance built into Google's ecosystem
Google's Lookout app provides free, real-time visual assistance on Android, including object identification, text reading, document scanning, and explore mode for continuous scene description. Because it runs locally (or nearly so) on Android devices, it can function with limited internet connectivity. Consider Lookout for Android users who want a deeply integrated Google ecosystem experience, or for situations where internet connectivity is unreliable.
Getting Started
Download Be My Eyes on iOS or Android
Search for "Be My Eyes" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app is free with no hidden costs. During setup, sign up as a blind or low-vision user. The app will walk through initial accessibility configuration and is designed to be completable via VoiceOver (iOS) or TalkBack (Android) without sighted assistance.
Try Be My AI with an Everyday Object
Navigate to the Be My AI tab in the app. Photograph something familiar, such as a food label, an envelope, or a clothing tag. Ask the AI to describe what it sees and then follow up with specific questions to understand how the conversational interface works. This first experience helps calibrate expectations for what Be My AI does well versus when a human volunteer might be more helpful.
Explore Volunteer and Specialized Help Features
Beyond Be My AI, explore the volunteer calling feature and the Specialized Help directory, where companies like Microsoft, Hilton, and Spotify have dedicated accessible customer service teams. Understanding the full scope of Be My Eyes helps identify which feature to use for different needs. Volunteer calls are ideal for complex, real-time tasks; Be My AI is ideal for quick, on-demand photo-based questions.
For Organizations: List in the Service Directory
If your nonprofit offers accessible phone or digital support services for blind and low-vision clients, explore listing your organization in Be My Eyes' Service Directory at no cost. This puts your services in front of the 750,000+ blind and low-vision users who rely on Be My Eyes, creating a new, accessible discovery channel for your programs. Contact Be My Eyes through their business website to initiate a listing.
Need Help with Implementation?
Get expert guidance on accessibility technology for your nonprofit
Building a genuinely inclusive program or service environment for blind and low-vision individuals involves more than a single app. One Hundred Nights can help your nonprofit evaluate accessibility tools, design training programs for staff and participants, and develop a comprehensive digital accessibility strategy aligned with your mission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Be My AI really free for blind and low-vision users?
Yes. Be My AI is completely free for blind and low-vision users. It is built into the free Be My Eyes app (iOS and Android) with no subscription, no in-app purchases, and no usage limits. The core volunteer calling service is also free. Be My Eyes generates revenue from its enterprise products (Service AI, Service Connect) offered to businesses, which subsidizes the free consumer experience.
What can Be My AI actually do?
Be My AI can describe images in detail, read text from photos (menus, signs, labels, documents), identify objects, help navigate visual interfaces, and answer follow-up questions about images in a conversational way. It works by using OpenAI's GPT-4 vision capabilities to analyze photos taken through the Be My Eyes app. Common uses include reading expiration dates, describing clothing colors and styles, identifying medications, reading mail, and helping with technology setup.
How is Be My AI different from the regular Be My Eyes volunteer service?
The original Be My Eyes connects blind and low-vision users to sighted volunteers via live video call. It is excellent for complex, nuanced situations where human judgment and empathy matter. Be My AI uses GPT-4 to answer from photos without requiring a human volunteer, making it available 24/7 instantly. If Be My AI cannot help or users prefer human assistance, they can always connect with a volunteer from within the same app. Both services are free.
Can nonprofits serving blind and low-vision people use Be My AI in their programs?
Nonprofits can recommend Be My AI to program participants who are blind or have low vision, as the app is completely free and available on iOS and Android. Organizations with accessible customer service needs (such as those serving blind clients by phone) can explore Be My Eyes' enterprise Service Directory, Service AI, and Service Connect products. Contact Be My Eyes directly for pricing on enterprise tools for your organization's service delivery.
Is Be My AI available in multiple languages?
The Be My Eyes app and Be My AI support multiple languages. GPT-4, which powers Be My AI, can understand and respond in dozens of languages. The Be My Eyes volunteer network also includes volunteers who speak a wide range of languages, making the service accessible to a global audience of blind and low-vision users.
What enterprise products does Be My Eyes offer for organizations?
Be My Eyes offers three enterprise products: Service Directory (free listing for accessible customer service departments), Service Connect (intelligent routing of requests from blind and low-vision customers to dedicated agents using video calling and two-way voice), and Service AI (standalone AI-powered accessible customer service resolving up to 90% of inquiries automatically). Enterprise pricing is available on request through the Be My Eyes business website.
Start Using Be My AI Today, At Zero Cost
One of the most impactful AI accessibility tools available is completely free. Download Be My Eyes and share it with the blind and low-vision individuals your organization serves.