Don’t have an iPhone? Here are 5 other tools that also let you use ‘visual AI’

Visual AI revolution in smartphones: Apple’s Visual Intelligence, introduced with the iPhone 16, marks a significant advancement in smartphone capabilities, integrating machine learning and advanced image processing for real-time image analysis and information retrieval.

• Visual Intelligence allows users to analyze images using AI, identifying objects and text within photos and initiating contextual searches directly from the iOS 18 interface.
• The feature is designed to make searches and information retrieval more accessible and intuitive, streamlining everyday interactions with images.

Alternatives for older devices: For users with older phones lacking access to Visual Intelligence, several free AI tools offer similar functionalities for image analysis and recognition.

• Google Lens: A free app available for Android and iOS that uses image recognition technology to search the internet using images instead of text.
• ChatGPT: This AI tool can identify objects in images, read text and math from images, and provide detailed descriptions, making it particularly useful for visually impaired users.
• Claude: Anthropic’s AI can identify objects within images, analyze charts, and discuss image contents, though it has some limitations in identifying people and counting objects accurately.
• Meta AI: The Segment Anything Model (SAM) can identify objects in images and videos across various domains, from agricultural to microscopic, and can be paired with large language models for comprehensive visual and textual content understanding.
• Grok: X’s AI tool now includes image analysis capabilities, allowing users to gain insights from photos directly within the platform.

Google Lens: Versatile image recognition: Google’s free app offers a wide range of functionalities, making it a powerful alternative to Apple’s Visual Intelligence.

• The app can identify objects, find information, and even connect to Wi-Fi networks by scanning network names and passwords on Wi-Fi labels.
• Users can compare objects in an image to find matches online, making it useful for tasks like finding similar fabrics or products.

ChatGPT: Accessibility and versatility: This free AI tool provides detailed image analysis and description capabilities, making it particularly valuable for users with visual impairments.

• Users can upload images and prompt ChatGPT to identify objects, read text, or describe the image contents in detail.
• The tool has practical applications, such as helping users read product labels or ingredient lists when visual aids are not available.

Claude: Advanced analysis with limitations: Anthropic’s AI offers competitive image recognition capabilities but comes with some notable constraints.

• Claude can analyze charts and discuss image contents but does not identify people in images.
• The AI may occasionally hallucinate or make mistakes, especially with low-resolution images under 200 pixels.
• While it can count objects in images, its accuracy in this task may vary.

Meta AI: Broad domain applicability: Meta’s Segment Anything Model (SAM) stands out for its ability to work across diverse domains and integrate with language models for comprehensive content understanding.

• SAM can identify objects in various types of images, including agricultural, aerial, underwater, and microscopic.
• The tool has practical applications in scientific research, such as helping identify trees in fire-related studies.
• Users can access Meta AI through a web browser or within the Metaverse platform.

Grok: Platform-integrated solution: X’s AI tool offers image analysis capabilities directly within its social media platform, catering to frequent users of the service.

• Grok can identify objects and interpret visual details from uploaded images on the X platform.
• While its integration within X may be convenient for heavy users, it also limits its accessibility to those not using the platform regularly.

Implications for AI accessibility: The availability of these alternatives demonstrates the rapid democratization of AI-powered visual recognition technologies.

• As AI tools become more accessible, users of various devices and platforms can benefit from advanced image analysis capabilities without needing the latest hardware.
• The competition among tech giants and AI companies in this space is likely to drive further innovations, potentially leading to more sophisticated and user-friendly visual AI tools in the near future.