From mid-February to mid-March 2025, while my parents were on a 30-day Viking cruise in Southeast Asia, I relied on accessible technology to handle daily tasks independently. One of the most useful tools I discovered during this time was Be My AI, an artificial intelligence-powered feature within the Be My Eyes app.
As a blind iPhone user who relies on VoiceOver, I often need assistance with identifying food labels. Whether I was grabbing a jar from my pantry or selecting a Clean Eatz pre-packaged frozen meal that I had thawed in the fridge, I needed a nonvisual way to confirm what I was holding. My primary goal wasn’t to get detailed ingredient lists or cooking instructions—I simply needed to determine:
- The name of the meal (e.g., “Basic Chicken with Asparagus”) so I could accurately log it into MyFitnessPal
- Nutritional facts, including calorie counts and protein content
- The type of jar or package I was grabbing from my pantry (e.g., peanut butter, jelly)
This review details my experience using Be My AI, explains how to navigate the Be My Eyes app with VoiceOver, and discusses the advantages and limitations of this AI-powered tool.
What Is Be My Eyes?
Be My Eyes is a free accessibility app designed to assist blind and low-vision users by connecting them with sighted volunteers through live video calls. These volunteers help users with tasks such as:
- Reading labels and packaging
- Identifying objects
- Navigating unfamiliar environments
- Checking expiration dates
In addition to human assistance, Be My Eyes offers Be My AI, a built-in feature powered by artificial intelligence. Instead of connecting with a volunteer, users can take a picture, and Be My AI will generate a text-based description of the object or text in the image.
Be My AI is particularly useful for tasks like:
- Reading food labels
- Checking nutritional information
- Identifying products in a pantry or fridge
Navigating Be My Eyes and Be My AI with VoiceOver
As a VoiceOver user, I found the Be My Eyes app easy to navigate. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use Be My AI:
1. Open Be My Eyes
- If you haven’t already, download Be My Eyes from the App Store.
- Open the app, and VoiceOver will automatically read the interface elements.
2. Locate Be My AI
- On the home screen, swipe right with one finger until you hear “Be My AI.”
- Double-tap to select it.
3. Capture an Image for AI Analysis
- When Be My AI opens, swipe right until you hear “Take Picture.”
- Double-tap to capture an image of the food package or jar.
- Make sure the label is facing the camera and well-lit.
4. Read the Description
- After taking the picture, wait a few seconds while Be My AI processes the image.
- VoiceOver will then read the AI-generated description aloud, including the product name and any readable text.
5. Repeat if Needed
- If the description isn’t clear, try adjusting the camera angle or distance and taking another picture.
- Swipe right to find an option to retake the photo if necessary.
Using Be My AI to Identify Food Labels
How I Used Be My AI While My Parents Were Traveling
During my parents’ month-long Viking cruise, I used Be My AI primarily for:
- Identifying Clean Eatz meals – I needed to determine the exact meal name (e.g., “Basic Chicken with Asparagus”) so I could log it in MyFitnessPal. These meals are pre-packaged frozen and I had thawed them in the fridge for later use.
- Reading nutritional information – I checked calorie counts, protein content, and serving sizes.
- Confirming pantry items – I used Be My AI to ensure I grabbed the correct jar from the pantry, such as peanut butter or grape jelly.
This allowed me to quickly and independently select the right meal or pantry item and track my food intake without relying on sighted assistance.
How Be My AI Worked in Practice
- Opened Be My Eyes and navigated to Be My AI.
- Took a picture of the food label or jar.
- Waited a few seconds for Be My AI to process the image.
- Listened as VoiceOver read the description aloud, providing the meal name or nutritional information.
This method was fast and effective, allowing me to complete my tasks independently.
Pros of Using Be My AI
1. Fast and Convenient
Instead of waiting for a sighted volunteer, I received instant results by taking a picture. This was especially useful when grabbing a meal from the fridge or selecting an item from the pantry.
2. Accurate Meal Names and Nutritional Info
Be My AI reliably identified:
- The meal name (e.g., “Basic Chicken with Asparagus”)
- Nutritional details (e.g., calories, protein content)
This made logging meals in MyFitnessPal much easier.
3. Increased Independence
Be My AI allowed me to identify and track my meals without needing a sighted person’s help, making me more self-sufficient in my daily routine.
Challenges and Limitations
1. Camera Positioning Matters
The biggest challenge was holding my phone at the correct angle and distance. If I positioned the camera too close or too far from the label, the AI sometimes struggled to read the text.
2. No Live Adjustments
Unlike sighted volunteers who can guide camera positioning in real time, Be My AI only processes still images. If my photo wasn’t clear, I had to retake it multiple times.
3. Limited Context Beyond Text
Be My AI was great for reading meal names and nutrition facts, but it didn’t always provide context beyond the text on the label. If I had needed additional details (like preparation instructions), I would have had to take multiple photos.
Best Use Cases for Be My AI in Food Label Identification
From my experience, Be My AI is best for:
- Identifying pre-packaged frozen meals – It provided the exact meal name, making it easy to log into MyFitnessPal.
- Reading nutritional facts – It quickly gave me calorie counts, protein content, and serving sizes.
- Confirming pantry items – It helped me ensure I grabbed the right jar, like peanut butter or jelly.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Be My AI proved to be an invaluable tool for identifying food labels nonvisually. It made meal tracking and pantry organization significantly easier while my parents were away.
- Fast and accessible – I could identify meals and labels in seconds.
- Accurate results – The AI provided reliable meal names and nutrition facts.
- Independent experience – I didn’t need to rely on sighted assistance.
Although positioning the phone correctly required some trial and error, once I got the hang of it, Be My AI worked flawlessly. If you’re a blind or low-vision user looking for a fast and accessible way to identify food packaging, I highly recommend giving Be My AI a try!
Have you used Be My AI to identify food labels or other items? Share your experience in the comments below!