vivo Honored at ITU AI for Good Global Summit for Accessibility Innovations

vivo's Commitment to Accessibility

In a remarkable achievement, vivo has been awarded the prestigious 'Innovate for Impact' best use case award in the accessibility category at the AI for Good Global Summit held in Geneva, Switzerland. This accolade, received on July 9, 2025, highlights vivo’s role in empowering people with disabilities through the innovative use of on-device artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative, promisingly titled 'On-Device Intelligence Empowers People with Disabilities and Smart Interaction Scenarios,' clearly demonstrated its efficacy among top submissions from 32 nations worldwide.

Cao Yuqiong, the Senior Director of Software Industry Development at vivo, took the stage at the summit, which unites a dynamic community spearheaded by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) alongside numerous other UN organizations. During her keynote, entitled 'AI Expanding Human Perception: Seeing, Hearing, Understanding Everything,' Cao illustrated vivo’s vision of utilizing technology for the public good and showcased innovative accessibility features such as vivo Seeing.

Achievements in Accessibility

Since 2019, vivo has been pioneering the application of AI technologies to develop leading-edge accessibility solutions, contributing significantly to inclusivity in the digital landscape. One of their standout offerings is the 'vivo Listening,' which facilitates seamless two-way voice-to-text communication, allowing for smoother interactions, especially beneficial to those with auditory challenges. Another front-runner from vivo is its groundbreaking 'Sign Language Translator,' designed to accurately interpret complex sign languages, thus bridging communication gaps for the hearing impaired.

In its commitment to promotion of assistance technologies, vivo has developed the 'vivo Seeing'—an innovative multimodal visual assistant that offers essential functions like environment analysis and object localization for individuals with visual impairments. Furthermore, the 'vivo Music Scores Reader' enables visually impaired individuals to enjoy music by effortlessly reading sheet music, thereby opening up new opportunities for artistic expression.

Vivo’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. In June 2025, their 'Voice for Hope Initiative' was acknowledged as an 'Outstanding Case of Technology for the Disabled' by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. Additionally, during the 7th Technology Accessibility Development Conference, their initiative focusing on information accessibility driven by substantial AI models received the title of '2025 Outstanding Case of Information Accessibility.'

Leading Innovation in Barrier-Free Technology

As part of its ambitious plans to develop a barrier-free ecosystem, vivo is creating groundbreaking technologies that cater to individuals with disabilities. This includes being the first technology company in China to facilitate guided tours in the National Barrier-Free Environment Exhibition Hall using smartphone technologies, offering a hands-on experience to those who may otherwise face challenges in accessing such spaces.

In line with their mission to transform accessibility technologies, vivo has made its AI capabilities freely available to developers who focus on barrier-free solutions. This initiative is intended to foster innovative advancements in assistive technologies that support the disabled community.

To further amplify their commitment, in May 2025, vivo announced a significant investment of RMB 30 million over five years dedicated to uncovering innovative methods that empower individuals with disabilities to pursue a barrier-free lifestyle. This pledge emphasizes vivo's holistic approach towards inclusivity and technology, impacting global outreach.

With their products and services currently reaching over 500 million users across 60 countries, it’s clear that vivo's relentless pursuit for enhancing accessibility has directly benefited more than 4 million users. Their mission remains rooted in empowering diverse communities through technological advancement, paving the way for a more inclusive digital future.

By prioritizing accessibility, vivo reaffirms its position as a leader in the tech industry, proving that innovation can truly make a positive impact on humanity.