In a compelling new one-off documentary for BBC Two, comedian and Strictly Come Dancing star Chris McCausland presents a powerful defence of artificial intelligence that could make even the most ardent sceptics reconsider their stance.
From iPhones to AI Glasses: A Personal Tech Revolution
The documentary, titled 'Seeing into the Future' and airing Thursday 20 November 2025, follows McCausland as he explores groundbreaking technologies with the potential to dramatically improve his daily life. The comedian, who began losing his eyesight in his late teens and became completely blind by age 25, first explains how the iPhone's Voiceover feature previously revolutionised his accessibility.
Now, AI is taking these advancements even further. McCausland demonstrates how the technology has transformed simple tasks like getting dressed. "Unless you can feel something is a specific item of clothing you often have to ask people what it looks like, or you have to mark them in some way," he explains, describing his lifetime of cutting labels to identify clothing. "With AI, you can just have it open and ask it."
Testing Tomorrow's Technology Today
During a visit to Meta's San Francisco headquarters, McCausland tests their much-debated AI glasses, often criticised as unnerving by many users. For him, however, the high-tech specs open remarkable new possibilities, enabling him to browse records for the first time in decades and read restaurant menus independently, despite some initial hiccups.
The documentary also captures McCausland's infectious enthusiasm for driverless cars as he experiences sitting alone in a vehicle for the first time in decades, beaming throughout his journey without relying on another person. His genuine excitement might even win over those wary of social media videos showing Waymo's slightly terrifying autonomous vehicles.
Beyond Science Fiction: The Future of Independence
At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, McCausland tests bionic exoskeleton legs, demonstrating how inventions once confined to science fiction are closer to reality than many realise. "I would love this to be matched up with something that allows me to navigate myself and solve a problem I have, which is getting around and independence," he says. "I think there's always something to be said for matching technologies to help people solve problems."
The journey continues at the futuristic Nano-Cybernetic Biotrek lab, where McCausland meets researchers developing technology that could eventually restore sight. "I came into this thinking that was the far future, but it's not as far as we thought, is it?" he reflects. "It's kind of just around the corner."
While McCausland doesn't directly confront AI sceptics, his personal experiences with technology that's genuinely changing his life – and promises even greater advancements ahead – delivers a powerful message that our fears might be misplaced. Through his perspective, we see AI not as a threat to humanity, but as a tool for enhancing human capability and independence.
