Name: Widex Allure
Brand: Widex
Price: 2798 USD

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are having a transformative impact on today's society. AI is now finding its way into virtually all industries, from social media monitoring and marketing chatbots to self-driving cars. And, with increasing sophistication, AI is also being applied to hearing devices.

Automatic features like AI, machine learning, and activity sensors aim to revolutionize the way hearing aid users experience sound, delivering an increasingly personalized listening experience.

In this article, we explore the different types of AI used in hearing aids and provide a review of the specific hearing aid models, their features, and how they enrich the lives of users—as well as what we might expect from them in the future. We also provide real-world sound samples of AI-enabled hearing aids so you can listen for yourself.

What is AI?

AI is the science of developing machines, particularly computer systems, to perform tasks that require human intelligence. “AI is an umbrella term to cover any technology that attempts to mimic human decision-making,” according to Kevin Seitz-Paquette, Director of the Phonak Audiology Research Center (PARC) at Sonova Group in Chicago.

AI algorithms—a process or set of rules used for solving a problem or performing a computation—enable machines to carry out tasks such as recognizing patterns and making decisions. Over time, AI-powered machines can learn from data and adapt their behavior and responses, without the need for additional reprogramming.

How is AI used in hearing aids?

“For years, hearing aids have used machine learning for sound classification, which we still employ today, but in different and additional ways,” explains Achin Bhowmik, Chief Technology Officer and EVP of Engineering at Starkey who was formerly VP and GM of Intel's Perceptual Computing Group that works on machine learning, AI, and advanced sensor initiatives.

Starkey's Achin Bhowmik, PhD, presents the keynote at the 2023 tinyML [Machine Learning] Summit.

AI-powered hearing aids are revolutionizing hearing aids in both noise and quiet. Bhowmik explains that digital hearing aids typically have specific modes for different listening situations, such as “Restaurant mode” or “Music mode.” Since these settings are general, they may not always work optimally in all listening environments. Instead of using a preset program, AI hearing aids listen to the millions of sounds you hear daily and make millions of fine-tune adjustments in real-time.

Hearing aids that use artificial intelligence and machine learning include the latest models from global brands like (clockwise from bottom left) Oticon, Widex, Starkey, Signia, and Phonak.

AI enhances hearing aids by learning to adjust to and improve your hearing ability in various listening environments, helping to increase speech recognition and understanding. They can also use information sensors, like those that detect motion, to make split-second decisions about how to use the devices’ directional microphones and amplification parameters. With AI-powered hearing aids, you spend less time trying to sort through the noise around you, meaning you can focus more on conversation, and enjoying the communication experience.

“AI sounds futuristic and a little intimidating, but it’s not a new concept,” says Seitz-Paquette. “The groundwork for AI began in the early 1900s, and it has been embedded in our day-to-day lives for decades. However, recent advancements have catapulted AI from being an unattainable fantasy to a tangible reality for current and future generations, and today, hearing aid users are benefiting from this technology as well.”

Kevin Seitz-Paquette, Director of the Phonak Audiology Research Center (PARC) at the Sonova Group in Chicago.

It’s clear that hearing aid technology is enhancing the user's listening experience and is continually developing. However, not everyone may feel they need AI-powered additional features. For example, people who live alone or rarely socialize might not benefit from features that improve listening in background noise. Whereas, for someone who enjoys socializing or whose work or hobbies involves communication or background noise, AI-powered features can allow for an improved hearing experience. Likewise, some people may feel like they would benefit from health tracking and fall detection features, whereas others may not see this as an essential hearing aid feature.

What hearing aids are most suitable to your needs is individual to you, and this is something that is best to discuss with your audiologist or hearing provider. Together you can determine exactly what you want from your hearing aids and choose the one that's best for you.

To understand the advantages of AI in hearing aids, it is first helpful to become familiar with the different technologies employed in AI hearing aids—namely, machine learning and deep neural networks (DNN). Let’s take a closer look.

Machine learning

Machine learning (ML) has been employed in hearing aids for about two decades. Machine learning is a type of AI that uses algorithms to sort through large amounts of data and make decisions or predictions. It focuses on continued learning and ongoing problem-solving capabilities. When applied to hearing aids, machine learning can capture information and learn from the hearing aid user's interactions with the devices (e.g., adjustments) and preferences about how they would like to hear in a particular environment.

A traditional hearing aid might use a specific pre-set program such as a “Restaurant setting” which may not effectively distinguish between important sounds and background noise. An AI hearing aid can enable you to customize and personalize a listening environment to your own preferences; the machine learning algorithm will learn to recognize and prioritize sounds that are important to you, based on your listening environment, and work to filter out the background noise.

Deep Neural Network (DNN) technology

The intention of Deep Neural Network (DNN) technology in hearing aids is to imitate the function of the human brain—aiming to respond to sounds just as your brain would without the need for any specific programming. When applied to hearing aids, DNN allows the aids to begin to mimic how the user's brain would hear and interpret sound if they did not have hearing loss. In short, DNN in hearing aids is designed to provide higher sound quality, an improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), better listening comfort and understanding of speech, improved recall, and increasingly more tasks on the programming / audiology side of the soundbooth.

Deep Neural Network (DNN) technology in hearing aids is designed to emulate the brain by using layers of vast amounts of data—over 12 million real-world sound samples in the case of Oticon's onboard DNN BrainHearing system—to do things like filter out noise and select the best acoustic parameters for listening in specific environments.

Hearing Aids that use AI

As noted, hearing aid manufacturers are utilizing AI in many different ways. Here we take a look at how some of the leading global hearing aid manufacturers are enriching the user and listening experience with smarter AI and machine-learning hearing aids.

The table below provides a quick summary of these AI-driven aids and their unique features.

AI Hearing Aid	Launched in	DNN/Chip Type	Bluetooth	HA Lab Score**	HT Score***
Starkey Edge AI	Oct 2024	Integrated	BT LE*	4.5

Dual vs. Integrated DNN Chips: As the table notes, there are now two different ways that DNN is being implemented in hearing aids. Most hearing aids use one integrated chip responsible for the DNN processing, while the Phonak Sphere Infinio and ReSound Vivia hearing aids use two chips, with the additional chip almost solely dedicated to DNN. This has created something of a schism: the dual-chip manufacturers claim they can pack more DNN processing power into the "extra" chip; the integrated chip manufacturers claim their aids can be faster, smaller, and have less battery consumption. We haven't seen conclusive proof that one approach is any better than the other—all the hearing aids in the table above perform exceptionally well.

Battery life and DNN-Boost Modes: For decades, engineers in the hearing aid industry have faced a tradeoff between longer battery life and enhanced sound processing. Some AI hearing aids—including Phonak Sphere, Starkey Edge AI, and ReSound Vivia—have special "AI modes" that can be activated within the app. When switched on, their AI/DNN processing goes into overdrive. While the speech-in-noise improvement can be impressive, remaining in these hearing enhancement modes increases battery consumption in much the same way that prolonged audio streaming does. While it's unlikely you'll want to stay in these modes for more than a few hours, using them for lengthy periods might necessitate recharging the aids before your day is done.

Starkey Edge AI, Genesis AI, and Evolv AI hearing aids

Starkey has been a leader in AI, introducing the first AI-powered hearing aid, Livio, in 2018. Today, all of Starkey's hearing aids employ an automatic sound manager system that uses AI and machine learning, regardless of the model. “We’re able to train our devices on a variety of scenes they might encounter in their daily life: wind, speech in noise, machine noise, music, even a quiet environment,” explains Bhowmik. “These have become more adaptive over time with our new line of hearing aids, delivering over 80 million sound analyses and automatic optimizations every hour. That’s nearly two billion adjustments in a day.”

The company's latest integrated G2 chip found in Starkey Edge AI offers 100 times the Deep Neural Network (DNN) processing capability of Starkey's previous hearing aid, Genesis AI. It reportedly provides users with up to 13 dB SNR improvement in noisy environments and 6 dB extra noise reduction in low-level noise environments—levels that would have been impossible only a few years ago.

Edge AI utilizes a single neural processing unit (NPU) integrated within a single chip, storing all the information and utilizing the DNN to process the sound. This chip is employed throughout the entire product line—not just one hearing aid. According to Bhomik, this integrated chip results in two key advantages: 1) a smaller size that allows products like the Edge AI microRIC to be one of the industry's smallest rechargeable RICs with an inertial sensor, and 2) sound processing that is 2.7 times more energy-efficient than co-processor technology and yields up to 51 hours of battery life per charge.

“What AI, and specifically DNN, does is a data-based approach for the device to become smarter and deal with challenges that are thrown at it from an acoustic viewpoint,” continues Bhowmik. “To instantaneously improve speech understanding and decrease listening effort in a challenging listening environment— such as a noisy restaurant—patients can activate “Edge Mode+” with a simple double tap of the device or through the App. This leverages the hearing aids’ built-in DNN accelerator to scan the environment and optimize sound for speech clarity. Our in-app feature Voice AI also harnesses the power of the iPhone’s real-time DNN computing power to act as a personal remote microphone for people with moderately severe or beyond hearing loss.”

Starkey was also the first hearing aid manufacturer to integrate 3D inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors in hearing aids, beginning in 2018 with Livio Edge AI, and later with Evolv AI, to their latest generation of products, Edge AI. The Starkey Thrive Hearing App is compatible with Evolv AI and Livio hearing aids, whereas Genesis AI and Edge AI are controlled using the MyStarkey app. The accelerometer and gyroscope in their wireless hearing technology can track steps and physical activity, and are currently the only hearing aids to detect and report falls, as well as provide a unique balance assessment.

The NEW Starkey Edge AI Hearing Aids: Full Feature Review

HearingTracker Audiologist Matthew Allsop gives you an overview of Starkey Edge AI hearing aids.

Furthermore, their AI hearing technology can respond to tap controls, perform a Self-Check assessment, and using connectivity to the cloud, transcribe conversations, translate more than 70 languages, set reminders, and act as a smart assistant—all of which require artificial intelligence to function.

Starkey is trying to change the way people see and use hearing aids. By transforming them from single-function listening enhancement devices into multi-functional and multipurpose health and communication tools. Hearing plays a significant role in our emotional well-being and physical health and untreated hearing loss has been linked to a greater risk of dementia, higher risk of depression, and increased risk of falls.

“Treating hearing loss is the number-one modifiable risk factor for the prevention of dementia, and is associated with delayed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and all-cause dementia, depression, anxiety, and injurious falls,” says Bhowmik. “With the recent results of the groundbreaking Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) study drawing a link between the use of hearing aids and slowing cognitive decline, it is more important now than ever to think about a patient's overall health and wellness.”

Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinity & Lumity hearing aids

Phonak has been utilizing machine learning for over 20 years to classify acoustic environments, which forms the backbone of what is now known as the Automatic Operating System (AutoSense OS), used in all models of Phonak hearing aids.

Now in its sixth generation in Phonak Audéo Infinio hearing aids, AutoSense OS 6.0 has been trained with myriad soundscapes and conducts an acoustic analysis of your surroundings in real time—with up to 700 scans per second. It then blends feature elements in real-time to provide optimal listening experiences, including in quiet rooms, music, and in noise. This translates to improved listening in noisy environments, increased satisfaction, longer and more confortable wear, and fewer office visits.

Phonak research has found that the use of AutoSense OS, versus the use of manual programs, improves speech understanding by 20%. This occurs when listening to speech in challenging listening environments, such as in noise, loud noise, and in a car.

Arguably, Audéo Infinio Sphere was the hearing aid that made the biggest splash in 2024, and it remains the highest-scoring hearing aid tested for speech in noise at the independent HearAdvisor lab. Sphere uses a dual-chip architecture—adding what Phonak calls its DEEPSONIC chip—and Phonak says this gives Sphere Infinio an outstanding 10 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) benefit. This separate chip affords a specific feature: Spheric Speech Clarity which allows people to hear voices in and amongst background noise, no matter where those voices are coming from via denoising tech. It’s reportedly trained with 22 million sound samples and is capable of operating at 7.7 billion operations per second.

Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio Feature Review: The Best Hearing Aid of 2025!

This video presents a comprehensive overview Phonak Infinio Sphere hearing aid technology presented by HearingTracker Audiologist Matthew Allsop.

But given the success of Sphere, you also shouldn't overlook Phonak Lumity—the predecessor of Infinio—for its use of AI with AutoSense 5.0.

“Lumity further expanded the ability to recognize and react to the direction of arrival of the primary speech source,” explains Seitz-Paquette. “Hearing aid users want a seamless and intuitive listening experience. Although modern hearing aids can provide great benefits to the user across a wide variety of listening situations, the exact needs within each of those environments may be different. AI in hearing aids is one way to allow the user to benefit from the best signal processing for any environment, without requiring the additional effort and hassle of managing multiple dedicated programs.”

The AutoSense OS AI-based system in Phonak hearing aids can recognize and react to the location of sounds, allowing users to avoid manually changing programs to hear better in noisy environments.

“Over time, AutoSense OS has become more and more sophisticated,” he continues. “For example, Phonak Paradise saw the introduction of Motion Sensor Hearing, where AutoSense OS gained the ability to take the patient’s physical activity into consideration when adapting the directional microphone response.”

All newer Phonak hearing aids that connect to the myPhonak app have some level of health and fitness tracking, including Infinio, Audéo L, L-Life, and Slim Lumity. In the previous Phonak Paradise product family, most hearing aids have health data tracking, via the myPhonak app, including Audéo P, Audéo P-Fit and P-Life, Naida P, and Virto P-312. The app enables the tracking of step counts, activity levels, distance walked or run, wear time, and, in the case of the Phonak Audéo P-Fit, even your heart rate.

ReSound Vivia

Introduced in January at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2025), ReSound's Vivia microRIE (receiver-in-canal) is the smallest AI-driven hearing aid produced by a major global manufacturer. Like Phonak Sphere, Vivia features a dual-chip architecture in which one chip is dedicated solely to AI/DNN processing, but Vivia has a significantly smaller and less power-hungry design. The DNN is trained on 13.5 million spoken sentences in various languages across 3.9 million tuned sound parameters, according to ReSound, and can perform 4.9 trillion operations per day highlighting speech and reducing background noise.

An added bonus: ReSound was the first company to fully integrate Bluetooth LE Audio with Auracast broadcasting technology, releasing what is, to date, the only fully Auracast-enabled hearing aid (versus "Auracast-ready"), starting in 2023 with its Nexia product line. Vivia carries forward this same tech, making it "future-proof"—and leading the company to describe Vivia as "having it all.”

When combined with ReSound's natural hearing design and directional microphone technology—known as "Intelligent Focus"—users are able to hear better in noise and focus more easily on the sounds that matter most to them.

GN Chief Audiology Officer Laurel Christensen, PhD, told HearingTracker, "It matters how you train DNN, and at GN we've trained the DNN on speech in noise—and not just any noise, but noise that everyone would agree is noise, like speech babble in a cafeteria, airplane engine noise, or traffic noise. Once we've trained the DNN, we take a considered approach to reducing that noise so that all of the information is still available for the brain to do its job. And then to maximize speech intelligibility, we don't just train our DNN on words, but we actually train it on full sentences...So our Intelligent Focus feature works intuitively to ensure that the AI homes in on the voices you want to hear.”

Four New ReSound Vivia Hearing Aids: First Look and EVERYTHING You Need to Know!

Matthew Allsop provides an overview of the ReSound Vivia hearing aid.

ReSound's internal testing showed that 64% of users experienced better speech comprehension in noise with Vivia compared to other AI-assisted hearing aids. Additionally, 89% preferred the new Intelligent Focus over the company's previous-generation noise-reduction products. However, HearAdvisor's independent lab testing found its impact to be less pronounced than expected in challenging noise environments.

ReSound Vivia with Premium Charger that holds three extra charges for on-the-go use.

Not only is the Vivia microRIE the smallest and most discreet device in this review, it also has exceptionally good battery life: up to 30 hours of use on a single charge or 20 hours with Intelligent Focus and streaming combined. ReSound told HearingTracker that, although it would be rare for the DNN-powered Intelligent Focus to be employed all day, the hearing aid can operate in that mode for about 10 hours. A quick charge of 10 minutes provides 2.7 hours of wearing time.

Oticon Intent, Real, Own & More hearing aids

According to Virginia Ramachandran, AuD, PhD, Head of Audiology at Oticon USA, the most sophisticated form of AI used in Oticon hearing aids is the deep learning, which occurs via the DNN embedded in the company's Sirius™ chip platform that now powers Oticon Intent. Also impressive is the DNN in the Polaris R™ platform in Oticon Real™, and the Polaris™ platform in Oticon Own™, and Oticon Play PX™ hearing aids.

Virginia Ramachandran, AuD, PhD.

Since a DNN is modeled on the way that the brain naturally learns, this is consistent with Oticon’s BrainHearing philosophy of supporting the brain in how it makes sense of sound.

Oticon More™ was the first hearing aid with an on-board DNN, and each successive generation of product families have built upon this, giving wearers access to all relevant sounds, in balance, with exceptional detail and clarity.

Oticon Intent is said to be “the world’s first hearing aid with 4D Sensor technology to understand each user’s listening intentions and seamlessly support individual listening needs, while giving access to the full sound environment.” It's 4D sensors gather information about the users acoustic environment, head and body movements, and conversation activity to tailor sound for different communication situations.

The DNN is engaged in a feature called MoreSound Intelligence™, now in its third generation with Oticon Intent. This feature's settings can be adjusted by the hearing provider in their Genie2 software, allowing you to experience an optimized fitting and a full sound scene with clear contrast and balance. MoreSound Intelligence 3.0 provides higher clarity and better balance, reportedly with up to 12 dB noise suppression—delivering 35% more access to speech cues compared to its predecessor (Oticon Real).

The system relies on the second-generation of Oticon's DNN (DNN 2.0), enabling more accurate representations of sound in the brain and better access to even soft speech sounds in noisy situations.

In the independent HearAdvisor acoustic lab, Oticon Intent scored 4.9 out of 5—the highest score behind only Phonak Sphere for overall sound performance.

However, one should also not dismiss Oticon's older AI-powered devices when considering a hearing aid purchase. In fact, Oticon's slightly older Real (launched in 2023) is still in the top-10 of HearAdvisor's overall prescription hearing aid rankings.

Commenting on Oticon Real's AI-driven BrainHearing capabilities, Ramachandran said, “Our research using state-of-the-art neuroscience, cognition outcomes, as well as more classic audiology research methods have demonstrated that this benefits the user by providing improved sound quality, greater access to speech, a clearer representation of the full sound scene in the brain, better speech understanding in noise, and greater long-term memory recall of speech.”

More recently, Oticon introduced the DNN-enabled Jet PX, which is positioned as a less-expensive "essential" hearing aid that uses the same chip as Oticon More.

The Oticon Intent Hearing Aid Is Finally Launched In February 2024

HearingTracker Audiologist Matthew Allsop provides an overview of the Oticon Intent hearing aid.

Signia IX & AX hearing aids and Widex Allure & MOMENT from WSA

Hearing aid manufacturer WS Audiology (WSA), which develops, manufactures, sells, and distributes hearing aids under the brands Widex and Signia, among others, has been using AI in their products for the past 10 years.

“At WS Audiology, we use advanced AI applications to enable adjustment of hearing-aid settings based on the individual wearer's preferences and the specific sound environments they encounter, to increase the personalization of the hearing aids and thereby the wearer satisfaction. Importantly, our AI applications continuously learn from the real-life data they gather, allowing their performance to be improved over time,” according to Jens Brehm Nielsen, Head of AI Accelerator at WS Audiology.

Jens Brehm Nielsen, PhD.

The most recent Signia hearing aids with AI-driven features are the Signia IX (Integrated Xperience) family, introduced in October 2023. Signia claims this is the first hearing aid platform capable of pinpointing multiple speakers in real time, enabling unprecedented sound clarity in group conversations. In February 2025, Signia Pure Charge&Go BCT (Bluetooth Connectivity Transformed) was launched, with an emphasis on universal connectivity using Bluetooth Classic in place of LE Audio, allowing virtually anyone with a smartphone to use the aid without compatibility or streaming issues.

Signia IX is unique in that it splits sound into discrete streams to improve hearing in noise—as much as 24% more than a leading dual-processor AI-driven hearing aid, according to the company. The IX platform uses Augmented Focus™ split processing technology: dual speech processors and binaural beam-forming microphones for processing speech and background noise separately to create a clear contrast between the two. Signia's RealTime Conversation Enhancement (RTCE) solution analyzes, augments, and adapts to the dynamic flow of multi-party conversation environments.

Signia Just Released What?! The New Pure Charge & Go BCT IX Review

Matthew Allsop provides an overview of the Signia IX BCT hearing aid.

Signia hearing aids are also known for their health-tracking properties, which were originally launched in 2021. Examples of these devices include the Signia Insio AX in-the-ear (ITE), Signia Pure Charge&Go IX, and Styletto IX. Features can be accessed by the wearer with the My WellBeing app which helps you to stay on top of your physical and hearing performance. It utilizes sensors in the Signia AX and IX hearing aids to measure a range of health parameters, including step counting, physical activity, wear time, and social interaction with others.

In addition to My WellBeing, the Signia app has another helpful feature called Signia Assistant. “Signia Assistant is a great example of how machine learning can be applied to hearing aids to improve the lives of those who wear them,” explains Signia's Senior Director of Audiology Brian Taylor, AuD. “Signia Assistant uses anonymized data from thousands of other wearers to help individuals fine-tune their devices using Signia Assistant. As more data is fed into the system, it becomes better at making precise fine-tuning adjustments for the individual. We have data suggesting that Signia Assistant contributes to greater wearer acceptance, mainly because wearers are empowered to make their own real-time adjustments through the app.”

Brian Taylor, AuD.

Rather than relying on AI for the bulk of its sound processing, Widex hearing aids use AI and machine learning to create hearing programs based on a wearer's typical environments, such as their workplace, home, or favorite restaurant. Designed for Widex Allure and MOMENT hearing aid apps, MySound uses AI to guide the user to a more personalized listening experience in real-life situations. This technology helps the user control how they hear by involving them in the process of determining the best hearing aid settings tailored to their listening needs.

But how does it work? The user is presented with two A/B alternative settings to choose from, allowing them to select the sound that is most appropriate for their specific environment. With time, the machine learning algorithm learns to automatically adjust to the user's preferences when they are in similar environments. This means the hearing aid user can have more direct control over what they want to hear. There is also a more automatic function that gathers worldwide data from Widex users' sound preferences and then instantly optimizes the sound.

“Hearing aids are incredibly individual and wearer preferences can change over time,” explains Nielsen. “Having an AI companion that learns from you and can adapt with you is a very helpful tool. AI’s main benefit to the wearer is providing personalized optimizations in real-time. This allows for less travel to the clinic, less time without your hearing aids as you have help with simple troubleshooting, increased retention of hearing aids due to a more optimized sound, and more time to talk to the hearing provider about your challenges and expectations.”

Widex Allure: The BIGGEST Hearing Aid Upgrade of 2025?

The Widex Allure hearing aid line is reviewed by HearingTracker Audiologist Matthew Allsop.

Some other current uses of AI in hearing aids

In addition to improved hearing in noise, AI technology in hearing aids enriches the user experience in several other ways. Examples of how hearing aids hearing aids use AI include:

Recognizing sounds: AI can assist in the classification of sound environments, which further helps in separating speech from background noise (e.g., traffic, wind, crowd chatter).
Understanding your listening needs: Over time, AI can help the hearing aids "learn" user preferences according to the changes made in the app or onboard buttons.
Tracking your fitness goals and health: Some AI hearing aids are going a step further to provide holistic wellness and fitness functionality. These health-tracking hearing aids have integrated sensors that enable tracking of health progress, such as the number of steps you take each day, social interactions, and even heart rate. The data collected can be analyzed by AI algorithms to identify patterns and trends, helping you to stay on top of your physical and psychological health.
Language translation and transcription. Some AI-driven hearing aids (e.g., Starkey Edge AI) offer real-time translation of languages and transcription. The OTC hearing aid, ELEHEAR Beyond, reportedly offers language translation.
Hearing speech through a facemask: The AI in your hearing aid recognizes that you want to speak to someone, even though their speech is muffled. In real-time, it prioritizes and amplifies the voice of the person wearing the facemask, helping you to hear them more clearly.
AI assistants: Increasingly, these "bots" and assistants are being employed within hearing aid apps to give you quick answers to questions, help with the onboarding process, and for troubleshooting.

Hearing aids can use AI to accentuate voice cues when people are speaking through a mask.

Future predictions about AI in hearing aids

So, what does the future have in store for AI in hearing aids? Anyone who has used ChatGPT or similar AI-enabled websites and apps knows that AI can be implemented in powerful ways that almost seem like magic. For example, Google Pixel 8 Pro can now manipulate images and audio using AI previously reserved for only expensive studio software (e.g., see 13:55 of this video review). It seems almost certain that AI-assisted voice recognition and noise separation will continue to improve audio quality and speech understanding in noise. We think a day will come when you'll "train" your hearing aid to recognize individual voices (e.g., a partner, friend, coworker, etc.) and/or the hearing aid will come to recognize and automatically prioritize them.

It's also very likely AI will gain from more health and fitness tracking and sensors, providing a wider range of on-demand, real-time data about how you're feeling and revealing more about bodily functions. Currently, many of the fitness tracking features (e.g., step counting) in hearing aids are still lagging in accuracy behind their wrist- or ring-worn counterparts; the gap between them will improve.

Smart glasses with amplification and captioning glasses may also eventually use AI to combine visual cues, sensors, and sound to further empower people with hearing impairment. HearingTracker recently published a product update on this exciting emerging technology.

In a MedWatch article that discussed the competition between future products in the hearing aid market, GN Hearing former CEO Gitte Aabo commented, “I believe that the biggest impact in the next 10-15 years will come from machine learning, which to an even greater extent than today can detect the sound environment you are in and adjust accordingly.” However, not all hearing industry executives agree that AI will necessarily revolutionize hearing healthcare.

Seitz-Paquette further adds, “AI has much more to offer within the field of audiology than what we’ve seen today. AI will provide additional tools for use in hearing aid signal processing, further enhancing the listening experience for the end user. AI will also unlock new approaches to hearing aid fitting, making it easier for the hearing care professional to achieve a satisfactory setting for the patient. One thing is for certain: AI will never be able to replace the unique human elements a professional provides, such as emotional intelligence and the crucial role they play in caring for and counseling their patients.”

Hearing Aids with Artificial Intelligence (AI): Review of Features, Capabilities and Models that Use AI and Machine Learning

What is AI?