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EssilorLuxottica must have been one of the companies Steve Brightfield was referring to in his CES 2025 interview with Don Baine aka The Gadget Professor, when he said:
https://thestockexchange.com.au/threads/brn-discussion-ongoing.1/post-446882
“(…) I talked to some manufacturers that have glasses, where they put microphones in the front and then AI algorithms in the arm of the glasses, and it doesn’t look like you’re wearing hearing aids, but you’re getting this much improved audio quality. Because most people have minor hearing loss and they don't want the stigma of wearing hearing aids, but this kind of removes it - oh, it's an earbud, oh, it's glasses I am wearing, and now I can hear and engage."
DB: “Sure, I could see that, that's great. So does this technology exist? Is that something someone could purchase in a hearing aid, for example?”
SB: “Actually, I’ve seen manufacturers out on the floor doing this.
We are working with some manufacturers to put more advanced algorithms in the current ones in there, yes.”
He didn’t specify which manufacturers or even confirm BrainChip were working with any of those manufacturers that were exhibiting at CES (note he didn’t say “I’ve seen manufacturers on the floor doing this. We are working with some of those manufacturers…”).
What this little dialogue does imply though, is that BrainChip’s technology is not yet implemented in any of the models that are already commercially available, such as the Nuance Audio OTC (Over The Counter) Hearing Aid Glasses that EssilorLuxottica launched earlier this year.
In January 2024, @Tothemoon24 had posted about their prototype to be displayed at CES 2024:
With their fully developed solution, EssilorLuxottica clinched an award in Digital Health at CES 2025:
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A month later, they had received FDA clearance and EU Certifications, which paved the way to make Nuance Audio available to consumers in the US and Europe:
EssilorLuxottica receives FDA clearance and EU certifications for Nuance Audio, making it available to consumers in the U.S. and Europe
EssilorLuxottica receives FDA clearance and EU certifications for Nuance Audio, making it available to consumers in the U.S. and Europewww.essilorluxottica.com
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Hearing Glasses | Nuance Audio UK
Discover Nuance Audio glasses in UK: the new hearing eyewear at the intersection of sight and hearing. Glasses with invisible open-ear-speakers to reduce listening fatigue.www.nuanceaudio.com
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Here are more details about the Nuance Audio hearing glasses courtesy of Soundly, “a single destination for hearing aid research, shopping, and expert care”, including a recent video review:
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Nuance Audio Hearing Glasses Review: Features, Price & How They Compare
Discover Nuance Audio Hearing Glasses in this in-depth review. Learn about features, pricing, pros & cons, and how they compare to traditional hearing aids.www.soundly.com
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The Nuance Audio hearing glasses are now also available for purchase here in Germany, where they sell for 1100 €.
Nuance Audio Brillen | Stilvoll hören & sehen | Apollo
Entdecken Sie Nuance Audio bei Apollo – stilvolle Hörbrillen, die Sehhilfe und diskrete Hörunterstützung vereinen. Intelligent, unauffällig und komfortabel.www.apollo.de
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One drawback is their limited battery life (8-10 hours per charge) - that’s where neuromorphic technology could come in handy, extending the battery life of future models of such hearing aid eyewear.
I am a bit confused now as to whether or not there is any AI involved in the technology inside the Nuance Audio frames, since the Wired article @Diogenese shared claims there isn’t, although an interview from CES 2025 (see video from 5 min or the transcript) suggested to me that the software running on the glasses “capturing the sound, cleaning the sound” was something similar to the audio denoising algorithms BrainChip has been demoing?


Nuance Audio Glasses: Exclusive CES 2025 interview | Harley Street Hearing
In this exclusive CES 2025 interview, Matthew Allsop speaks with Davide D’Alena from Nuance Audio about their AI-powered, FDA-cleared platform that’s transforming the OTC hearing aid market. Read on for Matthew’s discussion which explores the groundbreaking Nuance Audio glasses—stylish eyewear...

Anyway, regardless of whether or not there are any AI algorithms in the arm of the Nuance Audio hearing glasses, Steve Brightfield may technically still have referred to EssilorLuxottica when mentioning in his CES interview that he had “talked to some manufacturers that have glasses, where they put microphones in the front and then AI algorithms in the arm of the glasses” and confirming to Don Baine that he had actually seen manufacturers on the CES 2025 floor promoting this technology…

Just prior to CES 2025, EssilorLuxottica had announced the acquisition of Pulse Audition, a French start-up that uses AI-driven noise reduction and voice enhancement embedded in their eyeglasses (“Pulse Frames”).
Their algorithms are designed to run only on the Pulse Frames.
EssilorLuxottica strengthens its presence in the hearing space with the acquisition of an AI-driven tech startup in France
EssilorLuxottica takes a leap forward in its innovation journey with the acquisition of Pulse Audition

EssilorLuxottica Acquires Pulse Audition Glasses Tech
EssilorLuxottica, the global leader in eyewear that has developed Nuance Audio Glasses, has announced the purchase of Pulse Audition, a company that has developed AI software for its audio glasses, Pulse Frames.
EssilorLuxottica Acquires Pulse Audition's Audio Glasses Tech
The acquisition brings Pulse Frames' AI-driven technology and audio signal processing—as well as a team of highly skilled professionals—into EssilorLuxottica's portfolio, which includes its new Nuance Audio Glasses.Written by
Karl Strom
Published on

EssilorLuxottica, Milan, Italy, the global leader in eyewear and creator of Nuance Audio Glasses, has announced the purchase of Pulse Audition, a French company that has developed AI software for a hearing glasses product, called Pulse Frames. Pulse Audition, based in Vallauris (near Cannes), France, is a startup that uses AI-driven noise reduction and voice enhancement software embedded in eyeglasses to enable individuals with hearing loss to better comprehend speech, even in challenging, noisy environments.
EssilorLuxottica is introducing its Nuance Audio glasses which feature advanced speech-in-noise software and an open-ear amplification system for people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Nuance hopes to gain FDA approval for the product in the first half of 2025.

According to EssilorLuxottica, the acquisition brings Pulse Audition’s proprietary technologies, expertise in AI software development, embedded AI, and audio signal processing—as well as a team of highly skilled professionals—into EssilorLuxottica's portfolio. By integrating these capabilities, the Group plans to complement its exisiting proprietary hardware and software offerings, further elevating the quality of its products and solutions. The move builds on the Group’s strategic focus on hearing solutions, following its acquisition of Nuance Hearing in 2023.
“We continuously explore market opportunities in AI and big data, and this acquisition in France— one of our home countries— is a perfect fit with our long-term goals and investments in hearing solutions,” noted EssilorLuxottica Chairman & CEO Francesco Milleri and Deputy CEO Paul du Saillant in a press statement. “It reinforces our commitment to advancing the next category of computing platforms, also in Europe. We are excited to welcome this talented team in our Group and look forward to further unlocking the enormous potential in the underserved hearing space.”
HearingTracker Founder and Audiologist Abram Bailey, AuD, and Audiologist Matthew Allsop have favorably reviewed Nuance Audio glasses, along with several other experts in the field. It appears to be a promising new form factor for people seeking help for milder hearing loss and a discrete solution for hearing in noise. Both companies are displaying their products at this year's CES 2025 in Las Vegas on January 7-10 (see HearingTracker's CES 2025 preview).