Sonova launches hearing aid with real-time AI, first in market

GN Store Nord A/S

06/08/2024 06:05

By Amir  Orusov and Anastasiia Kozlova
       Aug 6 (Reuters) - Switzerland's Sonova  SOON.S  on
Tuesday introduced a hearing aid that utilises real-time
artificial intelligence to improve speech clarity from
background noise, the first such product in the global market.
    Along with the hearing aid, named Sphere Infinio, Sonova is
launching a new Infinio platform.
    Sonova had said in May it expected major product launches to
drive sales and profit growth in the second half of its fiscal
year, without providing further details.
    "The launch of both new platform and product should be a
surprise to the market, because nobody knew this technology and
this benefit (real-time AI), which is quite significant, will be
available for anyone already this year," CEO Arnd Kaldowski told
Reuters in an interview.
    Kaldowski reiterated that Sonova's second-half results were
going to be stronger on a year-on-year basis, and confirmed its
full-year outlook.
    Sphere Infinio uses new DEEPSONIC chip technology that has
53 times more processing power than what is currently used by
the hearing aid industry, the company said in a statement.
    Sonova views Infinio and its existing Lumity platform as the
main future growth drivers for its hearing instrument business,
which brings in around a half of its total sales.
    The hearing aid industry has been showing signs of softer
market dynamics in Europe and the U.S., while analysts have also
flagged tough competition in the market.
    A number of hearing aid firms, including Italy's Amplifon
 AMPF.MI  and Denmark's Demant  DEMANT.CO  and GN Store Nord
 GN.CO , have warned on profits this summer, citing volatility
on the market.
    "We will need to see how the market evolves and the customer
reaction to the products. But we are good with our full year
guidance even with the currently somewhat slower market,"
Kaldowski said.

 (Reporting by Amir Orusov and Anastasiia Kozlova in Gdansk;
editing by Milla Nissi)
 ((Amir.Orusov@thomsonreuters.com;
Anastasiia.Kozlova@thomsonreuters.com))