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Tencent doubles down on healthcare sector with launch of new AI-powered hearing aid, while bolstering pledge to serve society

  • The new AI-powered product was jointly developed by Tencent Ethereal Audio Lab and hearing aid maker Shenzhen Eartech Company
  • With Tencent’s self-developed AI algorithm, the new hearing aid has better sound clarity and speech intelligibility than similar devices in the market

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Tencent Holdings partnered with Shenzhen Eartech Company to introduce a new hearing aid powered by artificial intelligence technology. Photo: Handout
Iris Dengin Shenzhen
Tencent Holdings has launched an advanced new hearing aid powered by artificial intelligence (AI) technology, as the Chinese internet giant doubles down on the healthcare sector and on its pledge to serve society even amid slower business growth.

The device, priced at 2,880 yuan (US$399), was jointly introduced on Sunday by Tencent Ethereal Audio Lab, part of the Tencent Meeting live audio and videoconferencing app business, and hearing aid maker Shenzhen Eartech Company.

Using Tencent’s self-developed AI algorithm, the new hearing aid provides about 85 per cent improved sound clarity and speech intelligibility compared with similar devices in the market, according to the company.

At the launch, Silver Hair Technology Lab – operating under the Sustainable Social Value Organisation within Tencent’s Corporate Development Group – joined its parent firm and Shenzhen Eartech in a pledge to donate one AI-powered hearing aid, for each device sold during the presale period, to a hearing-impaired senior citizen in the mainland’s rural areas. The presale period started on Sunday and will conclude on November 7.

A report on China’s ageing population found that only less than 10 cent of hearing-impaired elderly people are equipped with hearing aids. Photo: Shutterstock
A report on China’s ageing population found that only less than 10 cent of hearing-impaired elderly people are equipped with hearing aids. Photo: Shutterstock
Shenzhen-based Tencent also committed to donate the new AI-powered hearing aid to an initial batch of 500 senior citizens in Shaoguan, a city in southern Guangdong province, as part of the company’s long-term initiative with the local government and partner charities.
Since 2020, Tencent Ethereal Audio Lab has made its audio AI technology, which powers the Zoom-like Tencent Meeting service, available for free to developers and manufacturers in the hearing care devices market.
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