Apple has recently launched a new feature for Apple Watch users that allows them to track calories and pursue a healthier, more balanced diet. All users have to do is capture a photo of any meal or food item using their iPhone camera.
Cal AI, which debuted in May 2024, is now available on Apple Watch devices. The app allows users to take a photo of any food and receive an estimated calorie amount with 90% accuracy. It has quickly gained popularity across the world among health-focused individuals and Apple watch users. The app is now worth millions.
According to CBS News, 18-year-old high school student Zachary Yadegari is the mastermind behind Cal AI. He began developing the app by leveraging his coding and computer skills, and utilized his technology expertise to grow and expand the app. “Teachers say he developed his coding skills as a 7-year-old prodigy.” They go further into his achievements, revealing that “by age 10, he was leading his classmates in coding. At 12, he was winning hackathons against college kids, and published his first app, Speed Soccer. At 14, his website Totally Science launched, and later sold for six figures. “
Computer Science teacher Anthony Shadman is familiar with students taking their coding skills to the next level as well as excelling in app development and design. Some of his Comp Sci student’s are even on the track to developing fully functioning apps. “After reading about Cal AI, the app sounds very interesting and useful for individuals like myself who have, in the past, spent a lot of time tracking and documenting food. I am curious about how the system can accurately register the meal’s size, since the camera can be closer or farther away from the food, and not every type of food is the exact same shape throughout every meal. I wonder if this may have an effect on the system’s accuracy when it is calculating the size of a food item,” Shadman said.
Students regularly use Apple Watches throughout their day for reasons that include health, accessing entertainment and communication. Sophomore Peace Tiam got her watch under a year ago, and has incorporated her newly obtained tech into her daily life. “I love my Apple watch,” Tiam said. “It’s really useful if I need to respond to a text or a call, and I don’t have my phone on me or it’s out of battery. I also like that since it’s small, it’s easy to access and there are many features that I can put into my daily routine. I have a lot of apps on it, mostly study or homework help related, but Cal AI sounds helpful.”
Cal AI’s success highlights the increasing impact of AI in health-related technology. “AI and technology similar to Cal AI can benefit many individuals in the future,” Shadman said. “This app seems like a time saver, and I am excited to see any upcoming inventions or releases inspired by technology like this.”
