AI Headset Gives Independence to People with Vision Loss: 'I Won't Have to Trouble Anyone'

For decades, Teresa Ng has relied on the kindness of strangers. Partially blind since her teenage years, the 50-something Singaporean often asks fellow commuters to help her spot her bus number. Sometimes people help. Sometimes they reject her requests, wondering what's wrong with her. 'My challenge is sometimes people cannot tell that I'm blind,' Ng explained. 'So they will look at me and think: "What's wrong with her?"' That's about to change. Ng is receiving a complimentary AiSee headset—an assistive device developed by National University of Singapore researchers that uses AI, a camera, and speakers to help users 'see' their surroundings. Two years after the prototype was unveiled in 2024, an NUS spin-off has launched to commercialize AiSee, priced at US$299 (S$380). The spin-off is seeking endorsement from SG Enable so users can get the device at a subsidized rate through Singapore's assistive technology fund. AiSee connects to the internet via Wi-Fi or phone hotspot and is powered by large language models like OpenAI's GPT and Google's Gemini. Users get answers immediately by asking questions in natural language. Ng, who has been testing a prototype since mid-2025, said one of the most important features is being alerted when her bus arrives. AiSee detects the bus stop through GPS, draws arrival timings from the Land Transport Authority's database, and uses its built-in camera to monitor the road and alert users verbally when their bus approaches. 'It could tell me the price, size, colour, and even describe the kind of occasion each outfit is suitable for,' Ng said about shopping with AiSee. 'Sometimes when I go grocery shopping, I have to ask the promoters for help and later feel obligated to buy from them. But with AiSee, I won't have to trouble anyone.' The device also books private-hire rides and alerts users when the car arrives. While the initial target was people with visual impairment, NUS has broadened its efforts. After signing an agreement with the Botanic Gardens in November, the team is testing AiSee's ability to lead people on curated tours. 'From phones with buttons to touch-screen smartphones to smartglasses—screen-free devices could be the next wave of computing,' said lead researcher Associate Professor Suranga Nanayakkara. 'We want AiSee to be a virtual guide to really understand beyond what we see.'