Despite the newest fad in weight loss being Ozempic and similar medications, their risks and availability don’t make them an ideal tool for everyone, with the good-old exercise and calorie control being the healthiest solution – and artificial intelligence (AI) can help.
As it happens, two teenage developers, Zach Yadegari and Henry Langmack, have created an AI-powered application called Cal AI, revolutionizing the world of calorie counting, recording millions of downloads, and generating impressive sales, IT Boltwise reported on March 16.
Indeed, these two 18-year-olds, fresh out of high school, launched the simple yet effective solution in May last year, and it has since beget more than 5 million downloads, earning over $2 million in the last month alone.
Is there an AI app that counts calories?
With Cal AI, which allows users to simply take a picture of their meal for the app to analyze calories and macronutrients using AI, now there certainly is. Although the concept isn’t new, Cal AI draws upon the latest advances in large image model technology, specifically OpenAI and Anthropic.
In the process, the young developers succeeded in addressing critical technical challenges, such as the detection of ingredients in complex dishes or in packaging. As a result, they achieved an accuracy of 90% with their app – more than enough for most users to meet their nutritional goals.
How to use Cal AI calorie counter
Utilizing Cal AI to track your calorie intake is very user-friendly and straightforward, and it requires three easy steps:
- Download and install the app for iOS or Android.
- Run the app and answer lifestyle questions to build your plan.
- Snap a photo of your meal.
- Get your nutritional breakdown.
Is there a free version of Cal AI?
Cal AI is free to download, but if you want to get a detailed nutritional breakdown of your meals, you’ll need to sign up for a paid subscription. If you’re on the fence, you can take advantage of the 3-day trial. Just make sure to cancel it before it ends or you’ll be charged for the full subscription.
Elsewhere, if losing weight seems to be particularly difficult for you, the problem could lie in your genetic makeup. Specifically, researchers have identified genes that might be responsible for obesity in humans and a beloved dog breed – the Labrador, opening new possibilities in treating the disease in both.