Starkey Genesis AI

Genesis AI is the latest flagship hearing aid family from Starkey launched in February 2023. It delivers industry-leading rechargeable battery life, improved processing speeds, and a completely new design. I was impressed with the comfort and performance of Genesis AI and would recommend it to anyone wanting a rechargeable hearing aid with fitness tracking and fall detection.

Who is Starkey Genesis AI for?

• You want the best - Genesis AI RIC devices are ideal if you are looking to maximize your hearing abilities with top-of-the line traditional hearing aids. They are highly advanced, compatible with both iOS and Android devices, can be paired with an extensive library of assistive wireless technologies, and must be fit by a hearing care professional.
• You have a flexible budget - Genesis AI hearing aids are the latest generation of technology from Starkey. They are therefore more expensive due to both the research and development behind the devices as well as the professional assistance you will receive from a hearing care professional.
• You like hands-on support - Your hearing care professional will guide you through the fitting process and assist you with general use. This also extends to the more fancy My Starkey app features. Regardless of your needs, you professional is there to help.
• You might benefit from health-related monitoring - The My Starkey app includes step counting, standing time, exercise, as well as a fall alert that can automatically contact someone in the event of a tumble. Upon request, these functions can also be shared with a loved one for added safety at home or when you're on-the-go.

Genesis AI overview

Genesis AI was released February 28, 2023, and is Starkey Hearing’s latest technology. They are available in the most popular styles ranging from receiver-in-canal (RIC) to invisible-in-canal (IIC). You can also choose between four technology levels for most of the available styles (24, 20, 16, 12) ranging from high to low, respectively. A contralateral routing of signal (CROS) model is also available for those with severe single-sided hearing loss.

In September 2023, Starkey added two new battery-powered options to the Genesis AI family, including an impressive completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aid.

Genesis builds on previous generations of artificial intelligence (AI) driven hearing aids, which began in 2018 with Starkey’s Livio AI. They have continued tuning their deep neural network (DNN) with Evolv AI (released in 2021) and now Genesis. This latest release comes with the all new Neuro Processor, having increased memory, speed, and overall performance.

Starkey claims that this boost in processing makes Genesis AI their most transparent and clean sounding hearing aid to date. Up to 80 million automatic hearing aid adjustments are made per hour to “fill in” speech gaps that would otherwise be missed. In doing so, Starkey states that this Neuro Sound technology improves sound naturalness, speech intelligibility, and offers lower listening effort for hearing aid users.

Aside from processor changes, Genesis AI sports a completely redesigned body with improved ergonomic shape and more flexible receiver cable. The new design also offers a slightly better ingress protection rating of IP68 (compared to IP58 for its predecessor Evolv). Starkey has also managed to deliver an impressive 51 hours of use time (on a single charge) for their RIC RT model—making them the industry leader for RIC battery life at the time of this article's publication.

Another aspect most unique to Starkey is the incorporation of wellness and overall health in their fitting philosophy. This again dates back to 2018 with Livio when various health tracking elements were first introduced. Genesis builds on this philosophy offering more advanced personal health monitoring through the My Starkey App (more on this below). Smart Assistant allows you to set reminders, adjust hearing aids settings, and more with voice commands. Furthermore, we still see integrated motion sensors which can detect falls and help alert family when needed.

Although our focus is on Starkey's Bluetooth wireless models, which make up the lion's share of the Genesis AI family, it should be noted there are also two non-wireless Genesis AI products: a tiny CIC with options for a size 10 or 312 battery, and an even tinier IIC with a size 10 battery.

What's it like to use Genesis AI?

Genesis AI are traditional hearing aids that a hearing care professional must fit. The diagnostic testing and hearing aid fitting process will be no different than other devices of similar style. In general use, Genesis AI attempts to improve your hearing automatically without requiring frequent manual adjustments via either the onboard switches or the My Starkey wireless app—this is all part of their AI philosophy. Batteries must also be changed or recharged depending on the model. More on the switches, app, and batteries shortly.

While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, occasional follow-up appointments with your hearing care professional will still be to your benefit. Starkey Hearing helps make this easier, and more accessible, by offering their complete remote care solution TeleHear. This allows you to meet virtually with your provider so that adjustments can be made from the comforts of your home. You can even download software updates from this function, reducing the number of trips to your provider.

Bluetooth streaming and wireless control

Genesis AI is compatible with both iOS^® 14 through 16 and Android™  7.0 and higher Bluetooth^®-enabled mobile devices. Except for the tiniest IIC and CIC models, all these hearing aids are capable of audio streaming and wireless control with the My Starkey app using Bluetooth Low Energy wireless technology (but does not include Auracast broadcast technology). Hands-free calling is available for iOS users and, thanks to Starkey’s 2-way audio, your phone does not need to be near your mouth as the hearing aid’s microphones are used. Android users, however, will still need to rely on their phone microphones to pick up their voice.

Controlling Genesis AI

In addition to using the My Starkey app (covered below), Genesis AI RICs and the custom ITE, ITC, and CIC 312 models can be controlled manually in three ways. The first two adjustments involve the multi-function rocker switch located on the back of the device. The default short press setting will adjust the device's volume up or down; a longer press of the rocker switch in either direction, lasting 3 seconds or more, will turn the devices off or on. This can be a useful feature in dynamic loud situations (e.g., a live rock concert) where you may wish otherwise to remove your hearing aids.

The third way to adjust these models is with Tap Controls, which are also found in previous models thanks to the integrated motion sensors. A firm double tap near the rocker switch can adjust smart features such as starting or stopping audio while streaming. The specific function of Tap Control can be configured in the My Starkey app. Your hearing care professional can also make adjustments to any of the smart features within their software.

The non-wireless battery-powered CIC and IIC cannot be controlled with the My Starkey app or Tap Controls. However, the CIC does have a push-button that can be used for volume and program changes, and to power the aid on/off. However, the wireless CIC 312 does offer connectivity and health monitoring with embedded sensors.

How long should I expect Genesis AI to last before needing to buy new hearing aids?

Traditional hearing aids such as these RIC devices from Starkey last on average 3 to 5 years. With proper care they can last much longer while devices exposed to more moisture and extreme use may exhibit a shorter life. The internal lithium-ion rechargeable battery should also span the entire life of the hearing aid. Regular clearing and maintenance are an important contributor to your hearing devices lifespan and general function. 

Power & Rechargeability

Most Starkey Genesis AI devices have internal Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. The standard RIC RT has a reported battery life of up to 51 hours without streaming and 45 hours with audio streaming. The mRIC R has a slightly smaller size and therefore compromises on battery life slightly having a reported 41 to 33 hour battery life without streaming and with streaming, respectively. The rechargeable ITE and ITC custom hearing aids both offer up to 42 hours without streaming and 36 with.

The two recently added models, the Genesis AI RIC 312 and wireless CIC 312, are both powered by size 312 disposable batteries, and last for 5-6 and 7-8 days, respectively, depending on streaming.

Genesis AI RIC devices can be recharged using the standard StarLink Charger which requires connection to a wall outlet via a standard wall plug. The StarLink Premium Charger is also available including an onboard battery pack for on-the-go charging. Both chargers have an updated docking slot for more reliable connection as well as a new turbo-charging feature where just 7 minutes in the case can provide an additional 3 hours of hearing aid use. It will take roughly 3.5 hours to fully charge Genesis AI devices from a depleted battery.

The customs are compatible with the Custom Charger and Premium Custom Charger. According to Starkey, ITE and ITC hearing aids will charge in 3.5 hours with either charger. With the premium charger, you'll also get a built-in battery, which means you can use your charger when away from a power outlet. The charger battery itself takes around 3 hours to charge fully.

Starkey rechargeable hearing aids will warn you of low-power at which point you will have roughly 30 minutes of battery life remaining.

The non-wireless CIC model uses either size 10 or slightly larger size 312 zinc-air batteries with an expected battery life of 5-7 or 8-10 days, respectively, for all but the ultra-power receivers. The IIC uses a size 10 battery and the batteries should last for 5-7 days. An indicator sounds when you have about 5 minutes of battery life left, and then again just before shutting down.

The My Starkey App

The My Starkey app is available for both iOS (15.0 or later) and Android (8.0 and later). It can be accessed on either the App Store or Google Play and installation will take only a few minutes with guided steps and help tips. From here, you can pair your Genesis AI hearing aids with your mobile device and start using the app. Check out this step-by-step walk-through for pairing.

The My Starkey App significantly extends your control over Genesis AI and their performance. It allows you to adjust settings, stream calls, track lost devices, manage your Personalized Health Monitoring, and more. The Home landing page allows you to access general controls such as volume adjustments and program changes. You can create custom presets after manually tuning noise reduction features and a 3-band equalizer. General information about your hearing aids, such as the Find my Hearing Aids feature, is accessible by selecting the My Hearing icon.

Smart Assistant

Starkey’s Smart Assistant can be engaged by selecting the microphone icon towards the top of this tab. Once enabled, you can use your voice to adjust settings, set reminders, and access other helpful features. As Starkey uses their hearing aid microphones for 2-way audio, you can speak at a normal volume without needing to hold your phone to your mouth.

Edge Mode+

Edge Mode+ is accessible on the Home tab which uses AI to help optimize your hearing aids based on your listening environment. This app feature has been updated from the previous generation Evolv AI and Thrive Hearing Control app. Simply select the Edge Mode+ icon and the app quickly analyzes what you are hearing to automatically adjust settings. You can then select between various modes for Best Sound, Enhance Speech, and Reduce noise. My Starkey also allows you to manually adjust and save your settings.

Health 

The Health tab provides several metrics for you to monitor and estimate physical activity such as steps, standing time, exercise and or other goals for the day. You can set up custom goals based on your lifestyle and track your progress with their Weekly hearing report. This is all part of Starkey’s Wellness philosophy, which is backed by ongoing research, and emphasizes the importance of both hearing and physical health. 

Fall Alerts 

Fall Alerts are part of Starkey’s wellness philosophy and can be set up within the Health tab. The additional feature can automatically send a text message to your contact(s), with your location, if a fall is detected. The app allows you to manually trigger alerts, cancel one should it not be necessary, and it will even notify you when your contact(s) open your message—reassuring you help is on the way. This is all possible due to Starkey’s AI and on-board motion sensors.

Learn

Learn is your pocket-hearing care provider. It provides useful information about hearing health and technologies. The content can be personalized based on your experience with hearing aids and interests. Starkey has included an impressive library of video guides and step-by-step prompted lessons into this tab. 

TeleHear

The My Starkey app offers TeleHear which is a video chat based remote care solution. This feature allows you to connect virtually with your hearing professional so that adjustments can be made from the comforts of your home. This is available for all Bluetooth compatible Starkey hearing aids and can also be found in their previous generation models. 

Translate & Transcribe

Nearly buried within the final hamburger menu tab is the Translate feature. This has been available since Livio AI though it has seen various updates, not the least of which is the expansion of available languages to an impressive 71. This feature allows you to choose your language, and that of someone you are speaking two, so that the app can offer real-time text and audio translation. The accuracy of this feature is impressive and can be extremely useful for travelers, those learning new languages, or day-to-day activities where language barrier may exist. The only downside to this is the several second time delay between incoming audio and the apps final translation—but that is easily forgivable given the complexity and usefulness of this process. 

You can also find a Transcribe feature offering quicker real-time speech-to-text assistance.

What is the biggest drawback of Starkey Genesis AI?

Like any prescription hearing aid, cost is the biggest drawback. You can save a lot of money by looking to OTC hearing aids, but keep in mind that you will be missing out on one-on-one counseling and hands-on support, and OTC hearing aids are for a limited group of people with simpler needs and mild-to-moderate hearing loss.

The product line currently lacks a BTE-style hearing aid. However, most people opt for a RIC model anyway, so this might not be a big deal for you or your provider. What could be a consideration is if you're considering the tiniest hearing aid in the Genesis AI family, the IIC. This model, along with the wireless CIC, does not have wireless capabilities so it won't work with the My Starkey app—although it does have Genesis AI advanced processing and serves as a good non-wireless device. In fact, This IIC was chosen as one of the best invisible hearing aids on the market and my colleague Matthew Allsop also speaks highly of this tiny hearing aid.

With the more recent addition of the wireless CIC 312 model, you now have all the bells and whistles enabled by wireless functionality in a tiny hearing aid, plus the newer sound processing. Having said that, we still think the slightly older Evolv AI CIC is a great value because it possesses most of the same features as the Genesis AI CIC and you may be able to get it for less money.

My overall opinion on Genesis AI

Genesis AI is Starkey’s latest flagship hearing aid. They offer several advantages over similar traditional hearing aids, such as AI, health tracking, and translation features. As these are prescription devices, your hearing care professional should also be ensuring the best possible performance, helping you hear your best. These devices should be considered if you're looking for the latest generation technology, industry-leading rechargeable battery life, and advanced app-based personalization.

Genesis AI may not be for you if you're too busy to schedule a couple visits to the hearing clinic. Traditional hearing aids usually require 2-4 appointments (and, with more complex hearing losses, sometimes more) for hearing testing, the initial device fitting, and fine-tuning—but this is at your discretion and usually well worth your time. Beyond these appointments, follow-up is generally required (and highly recommended) to ensure the devices work well and offer optimized benefits. The cost of these appointments is typically incorporated into the overall price of your hearing aids, so it is only to your benefit to take advantage of this care.

Where can you purchase Genesis AI?

Genesis AI are traditional hearing aids and they must be purchased through a hearing care professional, usually an audiologist or hearing aid specialist. As noted, this will generally require several appointments for hearing testing and selection of hearing technology, fitting of the selected device(s), and follow-up. 

What other products should I consider?

Genesis AI is a prescription hearing aid and will therefore be comparable with products from other major manufacturers such as Phonak, Resound, Widex, Oticon, and Signia. Flagship products from these companies generally have similar overall offerings, with slightly unique differences—making them more or less appropriate depending on individual needs and preferences.

Given Starkey’s focus on health metrics and wellness, the latest Phonak Lumity Audéo Fit would be a close alternative. Phonak Audéo Fit offers similar wireless capabilities with the inclusion of Bluetooth Classic. You will find comparable features within the myPhonak app, such as remote care and health tracking. It’s worth noting that health tracking capabilities (e.g., daily steps, heart rate) are limited to the Audéo Fit and are not available in other models of the Phonak Lumity product line. The slightly older Signia Styletto AX hearing aid also has a My WellBeing feature in its app that counts steps, wear time, and conversations.