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AI Case Study

Instagram automates image description generation using machine learning

Instagram has announced it is introducing an alt-text generating tool which will provide visually impaired users with text or audio descriptions based of Instagram photos. This will evidently require some form of image classification.

Industry

Technology

Internet Services Consumer

Project Overview

Instagram is launching "new features that will make the app easier to use for people with visual impairments. The changes will allow screen readers to describe photos, either automatically using AI or by reading custom descriptions added by users. If there is no description, Instagram will automatically identify what’s in a photo using object recognition technology, then read its automated description of a photo aloud when someone scrolls by."

Reported Results

Results undisclosed

Technology

Details undisclosed

Function

Digital Data

Digital Data Management

Background

For users with visual impairments, "descriptions, known as “alt text,” are widely used online and are now being built into Instagram. Users will be able to enter their own photo descriptions so that people using screen readers — software that describes the elements displayed on a screen — can hear it read aloud as they browse their feed, Explore page, or a profile."

Benefits

Data

Instragram photos

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