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  • How I Used Microsoft Copilot to Simplify Tip Tracking and Tax Prep

    In preparation for tax season, I needed to calculate the average daily tips and earnings for one of my partner’s kids. Rather than getting buried in manual calculations, I turned to Microsoft’s ecosystem to streamline the process—and it turned out to be a game-changer.

    I started by creating a simple form using Microsoft Forms. Each day, she’d enter her tips, hours worked, and the date. That data automatically fed into an Excel workbook, giving us a clean, structured dataset to work with.

    Then came the fun part: I uploaded the Excel file into Microsoft Copilot.

    From there, I just started asking questions—literally. I asked Copilot things like:

    • “What’s the total amount of tips she made?”
    • “Can you create a chart showing tips over time?”
    • “What’s her average hourly tip rate?”
    • “What’s the average amount of tips per shift?”

    I also told Copilot that her base pay was $4.50/hour. With that info, it calculated that her average hourly pay came out to $14.99. That insight alone helped us understand whether the job was financially worthwhile.

    What struck me most was how accessible this process was. Instead of navigating a massive spreadsheet—especially challenging for someone using a screen reader—I could just ask questions in plain language. Copilot did the heavy lifting.

  • Seeing the World Differently: How Be My AI Helps One Mum Navigate Daily Life

    For those of us who rely on non-visual information, technology can be a game-changer. Tools like Seeing AI, Envision AI, Aira, and Be My Eyes connect users with volunteers or AI assistance to help decipher the world around them. But today, let’s talk about one in particular—Be My AI—and how it has become an invaluable part of my daily life.

    Here are three moments when Be My AI helped me confirm what I sensed or adjust settings with confidence.

    1. Tackling an Inaccessible Thermostat

    Moving into a new house is exciting but comes with unexpected challenges—like a thermostat that doesn’t talk. Our new home had a basic Emerson model with only two buttons, two switches, and a screen. With no smart capabilities, setting it up seemed daunting.

    Thankfully, I turned to Be My AI. A quick photo gave me a detailed description of the thermostat’s layout, allowing me to determine which buttons controlled the temperature. I set it to cool and continued taking pictures to confirm the set point and current room temperature. What initially felt like a frustrating obstacle turned into an easy, independent task—no sighted assistance required!

    2. Seasoning My New Flat-Top Griddle

    A brand-new griddle meant mastering the seasoning process—getting it super-hot, applying a thin layer of oil, and letting it smoke off to create a non-stick surface. The challenge? At high heat, I couldn’t safely check for consistency by touch, and waiting until it cooled completely wasn’t an option.

    Instead, I snapped a picture and asked Be My AI for feedback. The AI quickly identified uneven areas and pinpointed exactly where I needed to add more oil. Thanks to its precise guidance, I achieved a perfectly seasoned griddle—and a non-sticky cooking experience.

    3. Perfecting My Meat Browning Skills

    Cooking large quantities of meat was something I hadn’t done before, so I relied on texture cues while stirring. Everything felt well on its way to browning, but I wanted to be sure.

    A quick picture confirmed that most of the meat was browned, but a few pink spots remained. I kept cooking, checked again, and Be My AI assured me that it was finally cooked through. This extra confirmation boosted my confidence and helped me refine my cooking technique.

    Final Thoughts

    Be My AI is an incredibly useful tool for adding more independence to daily tasks. While it should never replace personal judgment, it can provide clarity, confidence, and a new way of seeing what’s in front of you. With direct, concise questions, it becomes an indispensable assistant—right in your pocket!

    Whether troubleshooting appliances, cooking meals, or exploring new spaces, AI-powered assistance is changing the game for blind individuals everywhere. And that’s something worth celebrating.