On-demand, remote visual interpreting for the blind and low-vision community

Aira in California provides remote visual interpreting for visually impaired users. By 2024, it served 100K-250K users, partnering with firms like Amazon and state governments.

Aira, a tech company based in Carlsbad, California, provides on-demand remote visual interpreting for the blind and low-vision community, combining professional visual interpreters with high-quality Artificial Intelligence. Originally developed to support visually impaired employees, the app is now used across many industries by companies such as Amazon, Google, and Starbucks as well as by state governments. From 2020 to 2024 it served between 100,000 and 250,000 users.

Problems Targeted

Blind and low-vision individuals face workplace barriers, resulting in a 70 per cent unemployment rate in the United States.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

The Aira application utilizes proprietary technology developed by the company to connect users with professional visual interpreters, who assist in interpreting their surroundings through navigation, description, narration, and reading. The company also incorporates Access AI, an advanced AI-powered image tool, whereby users can capture or upload photos to obtain immediate image descriptions. Should users wish to verify the AI-generated response, they have the option to confirm with a human visual interpreter, thus effectively integrating AI technology with human expertise. The role of a visual interpreter involves engaging with Aira’s users and aiding them with a wide variety of tasks. The interpreter possesses skills in orientation, mobility, navigation, and description, and demonstrates flexibility in working collaboratively with the caller to achieve their objectives. With a dedicated team of professional visual interpreters operating remotely around the clock, Aira offers 24/7 service. Organizations adopt Aira as a workplace accommodation to assist blind or low-vision employees in accessing visual information during their workday. For instance, an employee needing to read a printed document before a meeting can take a photo, receive an AI-generated text description, and verify its accuracy with a visual interpreter. Aira partners with large organizations to offer their services for free to employees, customers, students, or visitors. Some U.S. states, including Alabama and Colorado, are offering Aira to all residents and for use at all state government buildings, parks, and universities.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

In recent years, Aira has expanded by collaborating with major companies such as Amazon, Google, Target, Gucci, and Starbucks. At Amazon, for example, Aira assists blind and low-vision employees in fulfilment centres. Within the U.S. users can access state and federal funding for Aira. In addition to the United States, Aira currently operates in Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. (Zero Project Awardee 2025)

Pictures

Aira combines professional visual interpreters with high-quality Artificial Intelligence.

Aira combines professional visual interpreters with high-quality Artificial Intelligence.

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