AI headphones? What can they do?

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In the world of electronic gadgets, things have been "smart" for a while. And recently they started to get AI-powered.

Gadget builders are trying hard to convince the buyers that their devices can do more things. But those fancy features are not always what we actually need.

So when it comes to headphones (or earbuds, maybe?) what benefits can AI bring us? Let's check out some of the products. Spoiler: It's not about a personal AI assistant.

Scan your ears

Creative's AI-powered audio technology. /Screenshot from Creative

Many smartphone makers have stopped giving us the headphone jack, trying to lead users to buy expensive wireless ones.

But the data/recharge connector can be used for the same job. And the computer sound card maker Creative has made a "dongle" that's powered by AI to give you a more realistic listening experience.

The dongle comes with an app that scans your ears. In this way, it understands your head structure and will tailor music sound waves to suit your taste.

Your ears are unique and they deserve to be specially treated.

"AI is a critical piece," the company's CEO Sim Wong Hoo told Channel NewsAsia in May, "There's so much data, if we don't use (AI), we will die."

Take a test

A smartphone user takes the Bragi hearing test. /Screenshot from Bragi

Another way to get the headphones suit you is through testing.

If you buy a pair from the brand "Bragi," they will invite you to take a six-minute hearing test.

This is based on the fact that each person has a unique hearing ability, which changes over time. Generally speaking, you can no longer hear some high pitched tones when you grow older.

The test determines what range of sound you can hear, and the headphones will try to help you bring the lost sound back to your ears.

Like the company stated on its website, "hear every detail of your favorite music like never before."

Health concerns

Speaking about the side effects of using headphones, a health service company in China called "Ping An Good Doctor" is releasing a headphone product that uses AI to slow down our hearing loss process.

The firm played a video introduction to the headphones last week at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, showing another kind of hearing test concerned more about health.

"They're new. We haven't even released the price yet," a staff at the booth told CGTN. "We want to showcase them first and hear what the users would say."

This is the general situation regarding AI-powered headphones now. The manufacturers are cautious. The users are curious. We still need some patience to get a clearer image of what the future may sound like.

(Cover photo from VCG)