AI-Driven Headphones Create Customizable 'Sound Bubble'

University of Washington researchers develop headphones that isolate nearby sounds while muting distant noise.

The prototype uses AI algorithms to create a 'sound bubble' with a radius of 3 to 6 feet, allowing clear hearing of sounds within while suppressing external noise by 49 decibels.
Developed with commercially available noise-canceling headphones, the system features six microphones and an onboard computer to process sound distances in real-time.
The technology was trained using a dataset collected in 22 indoor environments, utilizing a mannequin head and robotic platform to simulate various sound distances.
Unlike existing headphones that amplify sound from a specific direction, this system can handle multiple speakers and remains effective even if the wearer turns their head.
The researchers plan to commercialize the technology through a startup and are working on adapting it for hearing aids and earbuds.