Unilever has embarked on a transformative journey, partnering with Be My Eyes, an accessibility app specialist, to elevate the cooking experience for individuals with visual impairments. The focus of this collaboration is the integration of Be My Eyes’ AI technology into Unilever’s products, starting with a pilot featuring Colman’s Singapore Noodles Meal Maker in the UK.

At the heart of this initiative is the introduction of the on-pack Accessible QR (AQR) code, developed by Zappar. Shoppers can effortlessly scan the AQR code with their smartphones, linking them to the Be My Eyes app. This strategic move aligns with Unilever’s commitment to its global connected pack strategy, aiming to enhance consumer interactions with its products through digital innovations.

Through the Be My Eyes app, users gain access to volunteer assistance for reading and understanding cooking instructions. Additionally, a Chat GPT-4 AI bot is available for recipe inquiries, marking a significant advancement in AI-assisted cooking experiences. This collaboration is pioneering in the food product industry, underscoring Unilever’s dedication to pushing boundaries and improving accessibility.

Unilever is actively collaborating with Be My Eyes to train volunteers, provide specific product information to the AI bot, and seamlessly integrate its customer support team into the app for additional assistance. The AQR codes serve a crucial purpose – facilitating accessibility for blind consumers by providing essential product information, such as usage directions and nutritional details.

Introduced last year on Unilever’s Persil and Colman’s products in the UK, the detectable AQR codes are part of the company’s global connected pack strategy. This strategy incorporates technology to create a more inclusive and engaging consumer experience, with a focus on connected packaging, smart packaging, and QR codes. Importantly, the AQR codes go beyond conventional packaging, offering enhanced accessibility through the Be My Eyes app and ensuring a seamless experience for shoppers with blindness, low vision, or deaf-blindness.

Be My Eyes CEO, Mike Buckley, acknowledges the significance of this partnership, stating, “The 285 million blind and low vision consumers in the world buy the same products as everyone else. The difficulty in reading package ingredients and cooking instructions has long marred the cooking experience of these consumers. Unilever’s commitment to using new Zappar technology with Be My Eyes is pioneering a new era in product accessibility and disability convenience.”

Unilever’s strategic move sets a new standard for inclusivity in the consumer goods industry. It reflects the company’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance the lives of consumers and create a future where accessibility is seamlessly woven into everyday experiences.
You can read the original article here: Beyond labels: Unilever trials on-pack AQR codes for AI-assisted cooking.