These AI Headphones Can Isolate a Single Voice in a Crowd
University of Washington researchers have developed a new way to hear speech-in-noise more clearly. It’s called Target Speech Hearing, a groundbreaking AI (artificial intelligence) system available via headphones to help users listen to one speaker’s voice at a time.
The researchers had 21 people try out the innovative system, which earned high praise. Users said the speech clarity coming through the Target Speech Hearing headphones was twice as good as speech in unfiltered audio.1
How Does It Work?
To use the system, an individual wearing the AI headphones looks directly at the speaker they want to hear and taps a button on the headphones.
When the sound of the speaker’s voice reaches the headphones’ microphones, they forward it to the AI. The AI then quickly learns the speaker’s voice and isolates it from other sounds in the environment, continually enhancing its clarity even as the user and speaker move around.
How Is It Different From Hearing Aids?
Today’s hearing aids are loaded with AI-driven features, such as speech enhancement and noise canceling modes, to improve hearing in noisy environments. They also include directional microphones, which focus on sounds directly in front of the user and reduce sounds from other directions.
While today’s hearing aids can usually only enhance sounds in front of the user, the Target Speech Hearing system’s voice isolation won’t stop if the user turns away from the speaker. The system’s AI will continue to focus on the speaker’s voice even if the speaker and the user aren’t facing each other, such as walking side by side.
What Are the Limitations?
The Target Speech Hearing system isn’t perfect—it can only enroll one speaker at a time and has trouble enrolling a speaker if there’s an additional loud voice around.
The system isn’t commercially available yet, but the researchers hope it will one day be included in hearing aids and earbuds.
Interested in exploring the latest hearing aid technology? Our audiology team is committed to finding state-of-the-art hearing devices that fit your individual needs. Call us to book an appointment to discuss your options!
1 Thompson, D. (2024). AI headphones let listeners hear just one voice in a crowd. U.S. News and World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-05-28/ai-headphones-let-listeners-hear-just-one-voice-in-a-crowd
