US-based Pune engineer builds AI app for visually impaired readers

Pune-based engineer Seema Kharad, a school top performer, faced a challenge converting higher education reference books into accessible formats. Many of these books were not available in Braille, and Seema was dependent on others to read or record them. Her friend and classmate, Yogen Prashant Ghodke, developed an AI app called ListenToMe that converts PDFs, photographs, scanned documents, handwritten notes, and other materials into natural-sounding audio.

Ghodke, who studied Computer Science Engineering at M.E.S. Wadia College of Engineering, Pune and later graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, worked closely with Seema to ensure the app met her needs. The app also supports vernacular languages like Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, providing a natural reading experience for visually impaired users.

Since its launch in August, ListenToMe has processed over 7,000 pages of material, producing approximately 280 hours of audiobooks. Over 110 users, primarily in India, have utilized the app, with users spanning 13 countries on five continents. Kharad has created 73 audiobooks for her coursework, and the app is being used for language learning in countries like Angola, Chile, and Nigeria.

User privacy and security were prioritized, ensuring documents are not stored, sold, or used for AI training.