Hearing tech startup Legato emerges from stealth with $12M and a peek at its AI hearing glasses

A hearing tech startup has launched AI-powered glasses designed to help people with hearing loss by integrating hearing-assistance technology into eyewear frames. The company aims to address the gap between the millions of adults with hearing loss and the small percentage who actually seek treatment, targeting those with mild to moderate hearing loss through a more discreet and accessible alternative to traditional hearing aids. The glasses use AI to distinguish voices from background noise rather than relying on directional microphones, and they feature a dual-speaker system that directs sound only toward the wearer while preventing sound from escaping to others. The startup raised $12 million in funding and plans to launch the product later this year through eye-care providers at a lower cost than traditional hearing aids.