Outside in 20: An AI-powered tool to limit phone usage

Developer Bruno F94 has introduced 'Outside in 20', an open-source web application designed to help users disconnect from their devices while outdoors. Built for the Hacktoberfest Open-Source AI Challenge, the project provides users with curated outdoor activities, instruction cards, and a timer to encourage mindful engagement with nature. Unlike many AI applications that rely on cloud-based APIs, 'Outside in 20' runs entirely on the user's device using the multilingual-e5-small embedding model via Transformers.js and WebAssembly. This approach ensures privacy by keeping preferences local and avoiding GPS tracking. The application filters activities based on user mobility and goals, matching them through cosine similarity. By providing a clear 'stopping point' for digital interaction, the project aims to reduce screen time. The source code is available on GitHub, featuring automated testing and a reproducible build process through GitHub Actions, demonstrating a practical application of local, privacy-focused machine learning.