Volunteering does not always require packing your backpack and travelling across the world. Sometimes it starts with a simple notification on your phone. Be My Eyes is a free app that connects blind and low vision people with sighted volunteers who can offer visual assistance through live video calls and, more recently, with the help of artificial intelligence. It is a powerful example of how digital micro-volunteering can create real impact in just a few minutes a day.
What is Be My Eyes?
Be My Eyes was launched in Denmark in 2015 with the mission of making the world more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. Through the app, blind and low vision users can request help for everyday visual tasks, while sighted volunteers from all over the world receive occasional calls and support them in real time. According to the project, hundreds of thousands of blind and low vision users are connected to a global community of millions of volunteers in more than 150 countries.
On the official website, Be My Eyes describes itself as an accessibility platform that combines live human support, artificial intelligence and business partners. This mix allows users to get help in different situations, from reading a label on a food package to understanding a letter that arrived in the post, and even navigating unfamiliar environments.
How the app works in practice
The core idea is simple.
When a blind or low vision user needs visual support, they open the app and start a request.
The system sends a notification to several sighted volunteers who have previously signed up, and the first available person is connected via a video call.
The volunteer then uses the phone camera view to describe what they see, answer questions, and help the user complete the task.
Typical situations include:
- Reading expiry dates, ingredients, documents or handwritten notes.
- Checking colors or patterns of clothes before going out.
- Understanding signs, buttons or directions in unfamiliar places.
Calls are usually short and focused on one specific need.
Volunteers are not professional caregivers or emergency operators, but friendly helpers who lend their eyes for a moment so that someone else can act more independently.
From human volunteers to Be My AI
In recent years, Be My Eyes has started to integrate cutting edge AI technology into the platform.
The feature called Be My AI, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 vision capabilities, allows blind and low vision users to take a photo and receive a detailed description generated by an AI assistant.
They can then ask follow up questions in natural language, for example, to understand the layout of a room, read a long document or get guidance while setting up a new device.
The official introduction to Be My AI explains how this “digital visual assistant” is being tested and gradually opened to more users, always with an emphasis on safety and accessibility.
You can read more about this feature on the Be My Eyes blog: Introducing: Be My AI.
AI support is meant to complement, not replace, the community of volunteers.
If the AI is unsure or the task requires a more human touch, users can still reach a real person through the classic call system.
Why Be My Eyes matters for travelers and digital nomads
For the Voluntouring.org community, Be My Eyes is interesting from at least two angles.
First, it offers a very flexible form of volunteering.
Sighted volunteers only receive occasional calls, and they can choose when to answer. This makes it perfect for people who move often, work remotely or live a nomadic lifestyle.
You can be in a hostel, a train station or a coworking space and still dedicate a few minutes to help someone, as long as you have a stable internet connection and a quiet environment.
Second, Be My Eyes contributes to more inclusive travel.
Blind and low vision travelers can use the app to get visual support far from home, in places where written information is not accessible or where local services are not adapted to their needs. In this way, the app aligns with the idea of responsible and accessible tourism that we like to share at Voluntouring.org.
If you are curious about combining travel, remote work and volunteering, have a look at our sections on online volunteering opportunities
and digital nomad projects.
How to join Be My Eyes as a volunteer
Getting started as a Be My Eyes volunteer is straightforward and completely free. You only need a smartphone, a reliable internet connection and a bit of patience for the first call. The main steps are:
1. Download the app from your usual store: Google Play or Apple App Store.
2. Sign up as a sighted volunteer and select your language(s).
3. Explore the short tutorials and FAQ in the Sighted Volunteer Help Center.
4. Optional but recommended: visit the Be My Eyes Volunteer Hub for stories, tips and community news.
You will not receive calls every day.
In fact, many volunteers wait weeks or even months before their first connection, especially in popular language combinations. That is normal and part of the system’s design, since there are often more volunteers than users in some regions. When a call does arrive, it is usually a short and meaningful moment of support.
Ethical tips and good practices for volunteers
Because Be My Eyes deals with real people and personal situations, volunteers are invited to follow some simple but important guidelines. Calls should be taken in a calm environment, without loud background noise and without distractions. Respecting privacy is essential: do not record calls, share screenshots or talk about what you see outside the context of the call. Treat every user as an equal partner who knows what they need, and ask clear questions if you are not sure how to help.
It is also important to remember that Be My Eyes is not an emergency service. The app should not be used as a substitute for medical, legal or safety professionals. If during a call you feel that the user might be in danger, encourage them to contact local emergency services or someone they trust. Most interactions, however, are simple and practical, and many volunteers describe them as small but memorable encounters that stay with them long after the call ends.
Be My Eyes as a doorway to digital volunteering
Be My Eyes can be a first step into the wider world of digital volunteering.
After discovering how rewarding it is to support someone remotely, many volunteers start looking for other ways to contribute skills online, for example, in translation, communications or mentoring. On Voluntouring.org, you can find more ideas in our online opportunities section, where NGOs and grassroots projects sometimes look for remote helpers.
If you enjoy the idea of combining travel, ethical technology and community support, Be My Eyes is a gentle way to begin. You keep your current lifestyle, keep your job or studies, and still offer something precious: a pair of eyes on the other side of the screen.
Next time you scroll through your apps, consider adding Be My Eyes to the list. You might receive just a handful of calls in a year, yet each of those moments can make a real difference for someone trying to live more independently in a world that is still not fully accessible. And that is a beautiful form of voluntourism in itself, quietly happening through a small glowing screen.