Manually search for foods in a database if you prefer the old-school approach.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nAt the heart of Cal AI is an advanced artificial intelligence system trained to recognize foods and estimate nutritional values. According to its creators, its recognition accuracy is around 90%<\/span>\u2014impressive, considering this kind of technology was almost unthinkable just a few years ago.<\/p>\nWho created it? Spoiler: they\u2019re still in high school<\/h3>\n
If you assumed a tech giant was behind this app, think again. Cal AI was created by two high school students, Zach Yadegari and Henry Langmack<\/span>\u2014two guys who, between math homework and basketball practice, developed an app that\u2019s already surpassed one million downloads<\/span> and generated millions in revenue<\/span>.<\/p>\nWhich just goes to show: having an idea is one thing, but executing it is another. The saying \u201c1% idea, 99% execution\u201d<\/span> definitely applies here. I had the idea, but they actually built it\u2014so all the credit is theirs.<\/p>\nBack in May 2024, while their classmates were figuring out post-graduation plans, these two were launching a company that\u2014judging by the numbers\u2014has a bright future. If you\u2019re suddenly questioning what you were doing at 17, you\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n
Does it work?<\/b><\/h3>\n
Now, the big question: is Cal AI actually useful in daily life? After testing it for a few days, my answer is yes\u2014but with some caveats<\/b><\/span>.<\/p>\nWhat I liked<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n\n- Easy to use<\/b><\/span> \u2013 Just take a picture, and you instantly get calorie and macronutrient estimates.<\/li>\n
- Goes beyond calorie counting<\/b> \u2013 It can also help you achieve goals like weight loss, maintenance, or muscle gain.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Detailed nutritional breakdown<\/b> \u2013 It doesn\u2019t just show calories; it also tracks protein, fats, and carbs.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What could be better<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n\n- Accuracy isn\u2019t perfect<\/b><\/span> \u2013 With complex meals (like lasagna or sushi), the app struggles to recognize all ingredients.<\/li>\n
- The Italian translation needs work<\/b> \u2013 It\u2019s clearly been done in a hurry, most likely with AI. Some translations don\u2019t make sense (like listing \u201cChiavi\/Keys\u201d as a diet option alongside vegan and pescatarian\u2014huh?).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
That said, given that two students built this from scratch, I\u2019d say we can cut them some slack. And with the app\u2019s success, these issues will likely be improved soon.<\/p>\n
How much does it cost?<\/b><\/h3>\n
I mentioned money earlier, so let\u2019s get into it. Cal AI offers a free three-day trial<\/span>, then switches to a subscription model.<\/p>\nWhen you first sign up, they give you an 80% \u201conce-in-a-lifetime\u201d discount<\/span>, bringing the annual price down to less than \u20ac20<\/span>. After that, it jumps to \u20ac34.99 per year<\/span>, with even higher prices if you opt for a monthly plan.<\/p>\n