{"slug": "show-hn-visually-precise-ai-tutoring-on-ios", "title": "Show HN: Visually Precise AI Tutoring on iOS", "summary": "Knowable, a new iOS app, launched the world's first visually grounded AI tutor, Milo, which uses a MacBook or iPhone camera to follow students' on-paper work and provide real-time guiding hints for SAT and ACT test prep. The app, available for free with premium upgrades, aims to replace expensive human tutors and answer apps by never giving direct answers, instead coaching students to solve problems themselves.", "body_md": "[Get the App](https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/knowable-the-visual-ai-tutor/id6763789090)\n\n## Focused on\n\nTest Preparation\n\nEvery section of the SAT and ACT, drilled adaptively.\n\n## Making Something\n\nDifferent ✨\n\nUsing specialized hardware available on recent MacBooks or iPhones, we’re able to see what’s on your page as you do the work.\n\n## Check if Your Device is Compatible ⚙️\n\nEnter the model of your MacBook or iPhone and we’ll tell you if it qualifies\n\n[Try the Demo](https://learn.knowable.ca/demo?src=landing_mid_mobile)\n\n## One of a Kind\n\nYeah, other AI platforms exist. But nobody else offers you the ability to *just write* without needing to constantly remind the chatbot about what you’re working on.\n\n## Up and running\n\nin minutes\n\nAll you need is your MacBook, your notebook and your pencil. That’s it.\n\n#\nThe world's first\n\n*visually grounded*\n\nAI tutor.\n\n**Milo** gives feedback in real-time using your on-paper problem-solving progress.\n\nJoin For Free, Premium Upgrades Available\n\nThe problem\n\n##\nHomework help shouldn't mean\n\n*handing over the answer*\n\nA human tutor runs about $40 an hour — and isn't there at 11pm the night before a test. Answer apps just spit out the solution, so nothing sticks. Our AI tutor follows along on paper and guides your student to figure it out themselves.\n\nSimple setup\n\n##\nUp and running in\n\n*three minutes*\n\nNo special equipment. No complicated setup. Just your Mac and your notebook.\n\n### Aim your camera at your textbook\n\nOpen Knowable on your Mac and point your built-in webcam (or your iPhone via Continuity Camera) at your textbook or notebook. No extra hardware needed.\n\n### Hit opt+M and ask Milo\n\nPress and hold `opt` + `M` to speak your question, or type it in chat. Milo sees the camera frame at that exact moment.\n\nThink about what \"net force\" means. What forces are acting on the object?\n\n### Milo reads & replies\n\nMilo writes a guiding hint in chat — with LaTeX math rendered via SwiftMath — and speaks it aloud through TTS. You find the answer yourself.\n\nSee it in action\n\n## Watch Milo coach a session\n\nA real Knowable session: notebook on the desk, Milo following along, hints flowing as the student works.\n\nWhat makes it different\n\n##\nDesigned for how\n\n*high school students actually learn*\n\n###\nMilo sees your textbook,\n\nnot just your screen\n\nTraditional AI tutors only see what you type. Milo sees your actual textbook page through your Mac's camera. Press opt+M to ask a question by voice (or type it), and Milo answers about exactly what you're looking at.\n\n- opt+M push-to-talk voice + typed questions\n- Continuous camera feed via webcam or Continuity Camera\n- LaTeX-rendered math replies + spoken aloud via TTS\n- Never gives the answer — always a guiding question\n\n###\nAny subject,\n\nany textbook\n\nNot just a math app. Milo runs on frontier vision models, so it reads diagrams, equations, handwriting, and prose across math, science, English, history, and languages — whatever your student puts in front of the camera.\n\n- Reads diagrams, graphs, and equations\n- Understands messy handwriting and printed prose\n- Coaches every core high-school subject\n- One app for the whole course load\n\n###\nHints, not answers —\n\nso it actually sticks\n\nThe AI isn't doing your kid's homework. Milo never writes the answer. It nudges with a guiding question so the student reaches it themselves — which is exactly why they still remember it on test day.\n\n- Guiding questions instead of solutions\n- Builds understanding your child keeps\n- Only responds when your student asks\n- No copy-paste answers to hand in\n\nFor everyone involved\n\n##\nKnowable works for *you*\n\nWhether you're the one studying, the one paying for tutors, or the one teaching — Milo has something to offer.\n\n###\nLike having your smartest friend\n\n*in the room with you*\n\nStudying alone is tough. With Milo, you'll get quality feedback anytime you want, just a few clicks away.\n\nSimple pricing\n\n##\nStart free. Upgrade only\n\n*if they love it*\n\nEvery account gets 1,000 credits every month, forever — enough to try Milo across multiple subjects before you pay a cent.\n\n### Free\n\nForever1,000 credits every month, forever\n\n- Every high-school subject\n- Guiding hints, never answers\n- Uses your Mac's camera\n- No card required\n\n[Start Free](https://learn.knowable.ca/demo?src=landing_pricing_free)\n\n### Knowable Plus\n\nor $249.99/year (save 17%)\n\n- 10,000 credits every month\n- Everything in Free\n- Cancel anytime\n\n[Start Free](https://learn.knowable.ca/demo?src=landing_pricing_plus)\n\nNeed more? One-time credit packs are available in the app — 500 credits for $4.99 or 3,000 for $24.99 (USD) and never expire. Subscriptions bill through your Apple ID at your App Store region's price and can be cancelled anytime.\n\nCommon questions\n\n## Things people ask us\n\n## Is my child's data safe?\n\nCamera frames, voice transcripts, and chat messages stream over TLS to AWS Bedrock (us-east-1), where Milo runs on foundation models. AWS contractually guarantees that your inputs and outputs are never used to train these models and are never shared with the model providers — the providers don't have access to the AWS accounts that run inference. Camera frames live only in memory during a session; they are not written to disk or to our database. Chat messages and session metadata (timestamps, event log, hint counts) are stored in our database on AWS (Amazon DynamoDB, us-east-1) — encrypted in transit and at rest — so sessions can continue across your Macs. We never share data with advertisers. See our Privacy Policy for the full breakdown.\n\n## What do I need to use Knowable?\n\nJust a Mac running macOS Ventura or later. Knowable uses your Mac's built-in camera in Desk View mode to see your notebook — no extra hardware required. Place your notebook on your desk, open the app, and you're ready to go.\n\n## What subjects does it cover?\n\nEvery subject in your high school textbook. Milo coaches across math, science, English, history, languages, and more — anything you can put in front of the camera. Milo runs on frontier foundation models with vision capabilities, so it reads diagrams, equations, prose, and handwriting in any subject.\n\n## How much does it cost?\n\nKnowable is free to start — every account gets 1,000 credits each month, forever. Knowable Plus is $24.99/month USD ($34.99 CAD) or $249.99/year USD ($349.99 CAD, save 17%) and includes 10,000 credits per month, with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Prices shown at checkout are set by your App Store region. If you ever run low, one-time credit packs are available as in-app purchases. Credit packs never expire. Subscriptions auto-renew through your Apple ID; you can cancel any time in App Store → Settings → Subscriptions.\n\n## Does it just give answers?\n\nNo — and this is the core of what Milo does. Every hint is a guiding question designed to nudge you toward the answer, not to give it to you. Milo is built on the research principle that students learn best when they discover the answer themselves, with just enough nudging to get unstuck.\n\n## What if my child doesn't want help?\n\nMilo only responds when you ask. Press and hold opt+M to ask a question by voice (push-to-talk — release when you're done), or type in chat. Milo doesn't volunteer interruptions; if you want to work independently, just don't ask.\n\nStill have questions?\n\n[Email us at support@knowable.ca](mailto:support@knowable.ca)\n\nAvailable on Mac\n\n## Meet Milo today\n\nStart free in Safari. Your first session takes under a minute, with no download and no payment required.\n\n[Start Free](https://learn.knowable.ca/demo?src=landing_cta)\n\nRuns in Safari on Mac · Free tier included", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-visually-precise-ai-tutoring-on-ios", "canonical_source": "https://useknowable.ai/", "published_at": "2026-08-15 13:53:17+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-15 14:10:38.229875+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-products", "ai-tools", "generative-ai"], "entities": ["Knowable", "Milo", "SAT", "ACT", "SwiftMath"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-visually-precise-ai-tutoring-on-ios", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-visually-precise-ai-tutoring-on-ios.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-visually-precise-ai-tutoring-on-ios.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-visually-precise-ai-tutoring-on-ios.jsonld"}}