Blind Egyptian entrepreneur's AI app helps others 'see' the world

In August, a blind Egyptian teenager named Karen Morad discovered she could "suddenly see" again during a holiday in Kenya, thanks to an AI-assisted app designed by her blind brother, Mark. The app, called ScribeMe, uses audiovisual descriptions through Meta glasses to provide a full sensory experience of surroundings for those who are totally blind.

Mark, 20, began experiencing vision loss in 2018, and by late 2021, both siblings became completely blind due to a rare, incurable optic nerve condition. Karen's decline occurred over six months, while Mark's took nearly three years. Their mother, Marian Maurice, sought guidance but found limited support. Mark taught himself coding to develop ScribeMe, which now supports 20 languages, including Arabic, and integrates with Meta's smart glasses.

The app can be downloaded for free or with a subscription, providing real-time descriptions and assistance to people with visual impairments across 140 countries.