EssilorLuxottica is the biggest manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses and eyeglasses in the world and also own brands such as Ray-Ban. Image credit: Shutterstock / viewimage.

EssilorLuxottica has acquired French startup Pulse Audition as it looks to embed AI-based speech enhancement into its glasses.

One of EssilorLuxottica’s product lines is smart lenses fitted with acoustic technology, a combination that removes the stigma of traditional hearing aids according to the company.

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By acquiring Pulse Audition, EssilorLuxottica says the technology brought on board will “complement proprietary hardware and software” which will improve the long-term quality of products. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Pulse Audition has developed frames with a microphone array that scans the audio environment and detects to whom the user is listening. Gyroscope technology in the glasses can also tell where the user is looking via head movements, allowing personalised targeting of voice isolation. Embedded AI then enhances speech and takes away unwanted background noise.

EssilorLuxottica, the biggest manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses and eyeglasses in the world and owner of brands such as Ray-Ban, has already developed a hearing solution called Nuance Audio. Using technology it acquired from Nuance Hearing in 2023, the company has made progress in the hearing solutions space as it looks to offer a new approach for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. The Nuance Audio frames are expected to cost $1,100.

EssilorLuxottica CEO Francesco Milleri and deputy CEO Paul du Saillant said: “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.”

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EssilorLuxottica has previously said that it will seek US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over-the-counter (OTC) clearance this year. The FDA granted authorisation to the first OTC hearing aid software developed by Apple in September 2024. The tech giant is another company looking to transform traditional hearing aids as it is implementing the software in its AirPods Pro headphones.