Want a Fortell Hearing Aid? Well, Who Do You Know?
Summary
Fortell is an AI-driven hearing aid startup that has spent years developing custom algorithms and a bespoke chip to tackle the so-called “Cocktail Party Problem”—helping wearers pick out conversations in noisy, multi-talker environments. The device has been tested in secretive, high-profile beta trials in New York City and has attracted wealthy and famous early users. Fortell claims substantial technical wins: proprietary spatial AI for source separation and very low-latency audio processing to avoid perceptible distortion.
The product launches with a single clinic on Manhattan’s Park Avenue, a price of about $6,800, and very limited supply. Fortell commissioned a blinded study with NYU consultants that reported a 9.2 dB advantage over a leading competitor (Phonak) and an 18.9x increase in odds of understanding speech in the hardest multi-talker tests. The company has raised roughly $150m so far and plans careful, clinic-led rollouts before any wider scaling. Questions remain about broader accessibility, insurance coverage and independent verification of claims.
Key Points
- Fortell uses advanced “spatial AI” and source-separation models to isolate speech from noise in real time.
- The company developed a custom low-latency chip so processing happens fast enough to avoid perceptible artefacts.
- Beta users—many wealthy or famous—report dramatic improvements in noisy settings like restaurants and street demos.
- A blinded NYU-backed test showed Fortell outperforming a top AI hearing aid by 9.2 dB and 18.9x better odds of understanding speech in multi-talker conditions.
- Retail launch is limited: one Park Avenue clinic, white-glove fittings by audiologists, price c. $6,800 and a long waiting list.
- Fortell has raised significant venture capital (roughly $150m) but has yet to show how it will scale access or reduce costs for the wider population.
- Independent scrutiny is still desirable: study conditions favoured Fortell’s strengths and the research was company-funded, though the team has submitted results for peer review.
Why should I read this?
Because this isn’t just another gadget story — it’s AI trying to solve a real medical and social problem. If you care about ageing, accessibility, health-tech or where AI tangibly improves daily life, Fortell is worth your attention. Also: it’s a juicy mix of cutting-edge engineering and celebrity cachet, so yes, the status-symbol angle is entertaining too.
Source
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/hearing-aid-startup-ai-fortell/