Press room

Eden Prairie, Minnesota (October 2, 2023) – Starkey hosted an exclusive, global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hearing Health Summit featuring experts and visionaries in the AI and hearing healthcare space, including Apple, Google, MIT, and Stanford. At this exclusive, first-of-its-kind Summit, attendees had the opportunity to meet the minds behind Starkey’s ground-breaking hearing innovations, hear from global innovation leaders, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the science and engineering that went into the most advanced hearing technology in the industry, Genesis AI.

“For the past five years, Starkey has intentionally thought differently about hearing technology innovation — bringing in experts at the forefront of AI and neuroscience to engineer solutions that more accurately mimic how a healthy auditory system works,” said Brandon Sawalich, President and CEO at Starkey. “By continuing to push the limits of technology, Starkey is leading the hearing industry in redefining the future of hearing health, not just with incremental improvements, but with breakthrough benefits.”

AI Hearing Health Summit attendees heard from leaders in the AI space, including:

• Josh McDermott, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT
• Sarah Herrlinger, Director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives, Apple
• Phillip Moyer, Global VP, AI Business and Solutions, Google
• Matt Fitzgerald, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology and Chief of Audiology, Stanford

“Starkey has been an incredible partner with Google, and we’ve had a great opportunity to collaborate on a whole variety of artificial intelligence initiatives,” said Moyer during his keynote presentation. “So, it’s exciting to see everything that’s happened since January 2020 – from fall detection to the breakthroughs you’re [Starkey is] having in noise reduction, the use of technology to track things like steps, as well as being able to integrate deeper with some of Google’s technologies.”

“Starkey continues to be at the forefront of hearing technology, and we do that through our collaborations with leading technology innovators like the experts featured in our AI Hearing Health Summit,” said Starkey’s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering, Achin Bhowmik, Ph.D. “We are using advanced artificial intelligence technologies to transform hearing aids from single function listening enhancement devices into multipurpose health and communication tools that have a real impact on people’s lives.”

With Genesis AI, Starkey pushed artificial intelligence to its limits, enhancing sound perception, personal health monitoring and engagement to levels unlike anything else in the industry. Starkey was the first to integrate 3D sensors; the first to enable counting steps; the first to detect falls; the first to track and encourage social engagement; and the first to provide benefits within hearing aids that went beyond just better hearing.

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About Starkey
Starkey is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Founded by Bill Austin in 1967, Starkey is known for its innovative design, development, and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Led today by President and CEO Brandon Sawalich, Starkey is the only American-owned provider of hearing technologies. The company has more than 5,000 employees, operates 29 facilities and does business in more than 100 markets worldwide. Learn more at starkey.com.