The world of technology is abuzz with innovative solutions, and one area that’s gaining significant attention is the use of AI-powered tools for tracking nutrition and fitness. For those trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle, apps like MyFitnessPal, with its Meal Scan feature, and SnapCalorie have become essential companions. However, a new player has entered the scene, making waves with its impressive accuracy and user-friendly interface: Cal AI. This app, developed by two 18-year-old high school graduates, Zach Yadegari and Henry Langmack, has taken the health and fitness community by storm, with over 1 million downloads on Google Play and a rating of 4.8 stars, as well as a similar rating on the Apple App Store.
We’re living in an era where AI is revolutionizing the way we approach coding, with the emergence of “vibe coding.” Yadegari and Langmack, who recently graduated from high school, have leveraged this technology to create Cal AI, which launched in May 2024. According to Yadegari, in just eight months, their app has seen over 5 million downloads, with a customer retention rate of over 30%, and last month, they generated revenue of over $2 million.
Cal AI owes its impressive accuracy to the integration of large image models from Anthropic, OpenAI, and RAG, which enable the app to analyze food images with remarkable precision. The developers have also utilized open-source image databases and calorie information from sources like GitHub to train their AI model. This approach has allowed them to achieve an accuracy rate of 90%, making the app a reliable tool for those seeking to monitor their nutrition.
One of the key factors contributing to the app’s success is Yadegari’s exceptional coding skills, which he developed at a young age. By the time he was 16, in 9th grade, he was already proficient in languages like Python and C#. He even built his first business, which he later sold to the gaming company FreezeNova for $100,000. This early start in coding and entrepreneurship has given Yadegari a unique edge in the tech world.
Yadegari’s journey into the world of coding began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when his school provided Chromebooks for remote learning. However, he soon discovered that many students were using these devices for entertainment rather than education, often accessing games during school hours. The school’s response was to block access to gaming websites, but Yadegari saw an opportunity. He created a website called Totally Science, which allowed students to bypass the school’s blocks and access games. The website quickly gained popularity, attracting over 4.5 million users and generating significant revenue from Google AdSense. Yadegari eventually sold the website to FreezeNova, further solidifying his reputation as a young entrepreneur.
After meeting Blake Anderson, now 24, Yadegari and Langmack decided to co-found Cal AI, drawing inspiration from Yadegari’s own experiences with fitness and weightlifting. They have since been joined by Jake Castillo, 28, who serves as the company’s COO and handles marketing. With their innovative approach and commitment to using AI for good, the team behind Cal AI is poised to make a lasting impact in the world of health and fitness.
For more information on Cal AI and its remarkable story, you can visit techcrunch.com.
