Sewickley teen builds $170 AI glasses to guide visually impaired users

Alexander Du, a 17-year-old from Sewickley, PA, created IRIS — a $170, AI-powered pair of glasses that maps surroundings in real time, guides wearers around obstacles with vibration cues, and runs entirely offline. Paired with a GPS-based app and on-device AI assistant, the device aims to grant independent mobility to the visually impaired and reportedly reduces collisions by about 80% versus a traditional white cane. Du developed IRIS after his grandmother began losing her sight, earned a 2026 Presidential AI Challenge National Champion title, and was honored at the White House, though his grandmother passed away before completion. He plans to make the technology affordable for millions still.