In August 2024, Phonak introduced the Audéo Sphere Infinio — a smart hearing aid that doesn’t just amplify sound; it understands it. Powered by DEEPSONIC™, the world’s first deep neural network (DNN) processor built specifically for hearing aids, this device represents a major leap forward in making conversations clearer and everyday listening effortless, even in noisy settings.
Let’s break down what makes it so revolutionary — and how AI helps it work its magic.
What Is a Deep Neural Network, and Why Should You Care?
Imagine your brain as a giant filter that constantly sifts through sounds: a baby crying, a dog barking, your friend talking. It knows what’s important and tunes the rest out. Now imagine your hearing aid doing the same thing.
That’s what a deep neural network (DNN) does. It’s a kind of artificial intelligence modeled on how the human brain works. Instead of neurons, it uses layers of digital “nodes” that process information. The more layers, the “deeper” the network — hence the name.
Here’s an analogy:
Think of a DNN like a team of expert chefs in a kitchen. One tastes for salt, another for spice, another for texture, and so on. Together, they decide how to adjust a dish to make it perfect. In a hearing aid, each “layer” of the DNN listens for specific sound features — speech, music, background chatter — and decides what to keep clear and what to tone down.
The DEEPSONIC™ chip inside the Sphere Infinio has been trained on over 22 million sound samples. That’s like giving our team of chefs every recipe and flavor combo ever created — so they can recognize and respond instantly, in real time.
How the Audéo Sphere Infinio Works in Real Life
With the DEEPSONIC™ chip, the hearing aid can perform a staggering 7.7 billion operations every second. What does that mean for you? Let’s say you're at a busy café. There’s music playing, plates clinking, people chatting — and someone across the table is talking to you.
Instead of amplifying everything, the Sphere Infinio zooms in on the speech and lowers the volume of everything else. It’s like having a spotlight on the person speaking while the background dims — you hear what matters most.
It also includes something called Spheric Speech Clarity, which boosts the signal-to-noise ratio by up to 10 decibels. That’s like upgrading from a fuzzy phone call to high-definition sound — and it works from any direction, not just when someone is right in front of you.
Why This Matters for You
The Sphere Infinio isn’t just high-tech for the sake of it — it solves real problems:
- Better Understanding in Noise: Whether you’re at a birthday party, in a classroom, or out shopping, you can actually follow conversations without guessing what was said.
- Less Listening Fatigue: Your brain doesn’t have to work overtime to filter out background sounds.
- Auto-Adapting to Environments: The device adjusts automatically — no fiddling with settings every time you move from quiet to noisy places.
In fact, clinical research shows users of the Sphere Infinio understand speech more clearly and feel less exhausted compared to people using older models.
Putting It into Perspective
Let’s put this in a daily-life scenario:
Picture a family dinner with kids laughing, dishes clinking, and stories flying across the table. For someone with hearing loss, that setting can be overwhelming — or isolating. But with the Sphere Infinio, you’re part of the conversation, not straining to catch every third word.
It’s not just a device — it’s a way to reconnect.
The Takeaway: Smarter Hearing, Easier Living
The Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio shows what happens when cutting-edge AI meets everyday needs. It's not about having the most powerful chip — it's about using that power to give people back the simple joy of hearing clearly and living confidently.
Whether you're tech-savvy or just want a hearing aid that works, the Sphere Infinio is a reminder that AI isn’t just for robots and self-driving cars. Sometimes, it's in your ear, making life sound a whole lot better.
Want to see how this works?
Watch this video introducing DEEPSONIC™, the AI at the heart of Sphere Infinio.