Welcome to the VIgo4AI Newsroom! Here, we share the latest updates, project milestones, success stories, media coverage, and insights on AI accessibility for individuals with visual impairment. Stay informed and explore how AI is making the digital world more inclusive.
VIGO4AI Is Building Accessible AI Training for blind people and People with visuall impairement
AI can be extremely helpful in many ways and for sighted people, it is often an upgrade but for blind individuals and individuals with visual impairement, it can be a gateway to independence.
For roughly 40 million* people worldwide, who are blind and many more who have a visual impairement reading a letter, identifying products, navigating unfamiliar spaces and surfing online can be extremely challenging. AI tools can help overcome some of those challenges by effectively describing the physical and digital world to its users. But access to these tools alone is not enough. Knowing how to use them confidently is equally as important. This is why VIGO4AI’s main mission is creating practical, multilingual AI training for blind adults and adults with visual impairement and their educators. The goal of this mission is a shift in confidence: the ability to approach new technology with curiosity rather than anxiety.
The training includes something for everyone: for people with low vision and those who are fully blind, for young professionals building their career skills and for older adults encountering smartphones for the first time. It is designed for complete beginners and experienced users alike. Adaptive materials and flexible learning paths ensure every participant finds their entry point and progresses at their own pace. All curricula are available in five languages: English, German, Spanish, Italian and Slovenian.
Topics include: how to install and use Seeing AI and Be My Eyes for reading documents, recognising products, and navigating outdoors, plus integrating AI add-ons into screen readers; how to use generative AI — prompting, evaluating outputs, and applying tools like ChatGPT to writing and content creation; designing and publishing functional AI chatbots using Jotform, an accessible browser-based platform. Each level builds on the last, and all can be followed independently or with a trainer.
While these specific apps taught today may change in the future, the mindset of an informed and independent digital citizen will not. The technological advancements are not slowing down, and AI is not waiting for everyone to be ready. VIGO4AI is making sure no one gets left behind.
*According to the IAPB Vision Atlas 2020 data, approximately 43.3 million people are blind worldwide. Additionally, 295 million people live with moderate-to-severe vision impairment (MSVI). These numbers are rising, with projections indicating over 60 million blind people by 2050 due to an aging population.
An AI-created podcast (using Notebook LM) and AI-created transcript (using TurboScribe) about “AI Training for individuals with visual impairment”
This podcast and transcript are only available in english.
AI-created transcript of the podcast: VIGO4AI AI Training for individuals with visual impairment
Artificial Intelligence can become an intelligent and accessible search engine, a daily ally and a truly customisable tool.
(Date of post: 11.03.2026)
The ERASMUS+ project ‘Vigo4AI – Visually Impaired Go For Artificial Intelligence’ aims to identify innovative solutions capable of transforming AI into a concrete support for breaking down barriers, assisting people in their everyday activities.
Tools such as ChatGPT enable you to do the following…
Read more about VIGO4AI Artificial Intelligence / Search engine
Data protection with AI tools – what should you pay special attention to?
(Date of post: 02.12.2025)
Artificial intelligence is being used in more and more aids and opens up completely new possibilities. But the smarter the tools, the more important is a conscious handling of personal and sensitive data.
Read more about VIGO4AI Tutorial 1: Data protection
VIgo4AI Project Experts Meet in Düren to Test New Training Modules
(Date of post: 18.11.2025)
Eight experts from four countries gathered at the Berufsförderungswerk Düren (Vocational Training Center) to take an important step forward together as part of the ERASMUS+ project “VIgo4AI – Visually Impaired go for Artificial Intelligence.” In line with proven educational practices, the three newly developed course modules for people with visual impairments were carefully tested and further refined.
Read more about VIgo4AI Project Experts Meet in Düren to Test New Training Modules
VIgo4AI Consortium Meeting Held in Vienna
VIgo4AI project partners from all partner countries met in Vienna on May 26th and 27th for the first VIgo4AI consortium meeting.
Read more about VIgo4AI Consortium Meeting Held in Vienna
VIgo4AI Set to Launch with First Consortium Meeting in Vienna
Date: May 26–27, 2025 (Travel Days: May 25 & 28)
Location: Hilfsgemeinschaft der Blinden und Sehschwachen Österreichs, Schlosshofer Str. 2-6 / Stg. 7 / 2nd Floor, 1210 Vienna
Seminar Venue: HG Floridsdorf Seminarraum, Vienna