Meta has introduced a new feature for Ray-Ban Meta glasses that allows people with visual impairments to receive detailed descriptions of the surrounding space using AI. The technology is currently available in the US and Canada, but will be expanded to other countries in the future.
As part of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, the company announced two new features designed specifically for blind and visually impaired users. Both rely on the synergy between the hardware of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and the Meta AI intelligent system. The device’s camera and voice AI assistant work together to interpret visual information and transmit it to the user in the form of an audio description.
One of the key features is the provision of detailed descriptions of objects in the user’s field of view. To activate this feature, users need to enable the “Detailed responses” option in the “Accessibility section” of the Meta AI app settings. Once activated, they can ask the voice assistant a question about the surrounding space and hear a detailed description. The feature will be rolled out to users in the US and Canada over the coming weeks. Meta emphasizes that detailed answers will be available in other countries in the future. While no specific dates have been given, we’ll keep you updated as more regions gain access.
Live Volunteer Assistance via Glasses
Meta also confirmed the imminent international launch of the Call a Volunteer feature, first introduced in September 2024 and partially rolled out in November of that year. Initially available in five countries—the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Australia—it will be available in all 18 countries where Meta AI operates by the end of May 2025. By saying “Hey Meta, Be My Eyes,” a user can connect with one of 8 million sighted volunteers and receive real-time help via a live video feed from the glasses’ camera.
Meta AI now also allows users to customize the level of detail in descriptions based on the visual data captured, adds NIXSolutions. When the “Detailed responses” function is on, the system generates more in-depth feedback. This makes interaction with the device more useful in daily situations, especially for people with visual impairments. Ray-Ban Meta glasses include built-in speakers, allowing users to hear both voice prompts and ambient sounds, which is especially important when moving through noisy environments. Meta underlines that this feature is not for entertainment but a practical tool for enhancing everyday life.