Shopping used to mean browsing aisles and comparing products in person. But for someone adjusting to vision loss, that can feel frustrating or overwhelming.
Fortunately, artificial intelligence (AI) is making shopping easier, more efficient, and even a little more fun. And you don’t need to be a tech whiz to benefit.
5 ways AI can help you shop
1. Let a shopping app help. Apps like Instacart and Amazon already use AI to streamline your experience. Instacart’s “Buy It Again” feature remembers your favorites so you can quickly reorder and add to a list. You can also search for a recipe and instantly add the ingredients to your cart. Both apps suggest products based on your past choices.
2. Identify products with AI tools. Got a mystery can in your pantry? Apps like Seeing AI or Google Lookout scan barcodes and labels to identify items. Prefer hands-free tools? Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses can recognize products by just parts of logos and labels. Whether at home, online, or in a store, these tools provide immediate audio feedback.
3. Compare products with a voice assistant. Amazon’s Alexa can search for items, compare prices, and read reviews aloud. Say, “Alexa, read me reviews for this coffeemaker.” You can reorder favorite products by voice, too.
If Alexa isn’t your thing, try Innosearch AI—designed for people with vision loss. Use it online or call 855-746-7478 to find products, get descriptions, and place orders.
4. Try AI for fashion too. AI isn’t just for groceries. Apps like Aira and Be My Eyes describe clothing: from colors and patterns to overall style and vibe. Whether using a photo or product link, these tools help you shop your personal style.
5. Trust your instincts and ask for help. AI isn’t perfect. It may misidentify items or suggest the wrong product. That’s okay. Use it as a tool while trusting your judgment. Try a new app, explore a feature, and don’t hesitate to experiment. If you’re stuck, you can reach out to Hadley. Our tech specialists are happy to help at 847-784-2815 or [email protected].
Support for using AI with vision loss
Join Tech It Out, Hadley’s monthly discussion group where you can learn a few tech tips, ask questions, and share your experiences.
More practical help with AI tools
Learn how to use the free Seeing AI app to read text, identify money and colors, recognize pictures, and more in Hadley’s Seeing AI workshops.
Explore what your Alexa device can do in Hadley’s Alexa workshops.
Coping with vision loss
Hadley member Marie Woodcox shares, “Now, I pour my concentration into technology that will help me live with vision loss. It’s normalized things for me.” Hear her story, “You start doing what you can,” on Hadley’s Insights & Sound Bites podcast or read about her on Hadley’s website.
Hadley’s podcasts are also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, as well as by phone: 847-558-1317.
What makes unfamiliar technology easier to try? What AI tools have helped you?