Meta announced a partnership with CNIB, a Canadian non-profit supporting people impacted by blindness, to bring AI glasses technology to Canadians who are blind, Deafblind or have low vision. The company is providing funding and donating AI glasses to support the initiative.
According to Meta’s announcement, the partnership will focus on four areas: engaging people across Canada to understand how AI glasses can support independence; supporting community champions to lead peer training and product demonstrations while gathering feedback; sharing community insights with Meta’s accessibility and product teams; and providing accessible guides and training materials.
Meta is also donating AI glasses through CNIB’s Come to Work program, which provides training and resources to help participants explore employment opportunities. The program aims to help people assess how wearable technology can assist them in securing jobs and building careers.
Meta’s AI glasses offer features including text reading, object identification and describing surroundings, which the company says can help people who are blind or have low vision with everyday tasks and independence. The glasses also support music playback, live translation and hands-free calls.
“The best technology is shaped with the people who will use it,” said Angela Bonfanti, President and CEO of CNIB, according to Meta’s announcement.
Meta states the partnership builds on previous work including donating Ray-Ban Meta glasses to blind veterans in the United States through the Blinded Veterans Association and work with Vision Ireland.