Microsoft's 'talking camera' app for the blind isn't as magical as it sounds

Microsoft is trying to prove its artificial intelligence can do more than guess your age or win at Pac-Man.  

On Wednesday, the company released Seeing AI, a "talking camera" app for iOS meant to help the visually impaired navigate their surroundings.

Its list of features sounds almost too good to be true: it will scan documents and read you their contents, tell you which denomination of bills you have in your hands, scan barcodes to let you know exactly what you're holding, learn the faces of people you know, read their expressions, and even attempt to describe whatever's in front of you at any given moment. Read more...