Hearing tech startup Legato launches its AI hearing glasses

Hearing tech startup Legato announced Thursday that its flagship AI-based hearing glasses, called Legato Frames, are now available for purchase. The glasses integrate the company's patented hearing-assistance technology into the arms of eyewear frames and start at $999, designed for adults with up to moderate levels of hearing loss.

The startup says it aims to make hearing care more accessible by addressing the cost, comfort and stigma associated with traditional hearing aids. Unlike traditional hearing aids, which often use directional microphones and can struggle in noisy environments, Legato says its AI-powered system distinguishes voices from background noise, amplifying voices while reducing unwanted sounds.

The frames use an open-ear design but feature a dual-speaker system that directs sound toward the wearer while canceling escaping sound, reducing it by 99% just a few inches from the ear, according to the company. Legato says all processing happens directly on the glasses, with no cameras or recording.

Legato Frames weigh 34 grams with lenses and offer 10-12 hours of battery life. They are available in three styles and support prescription lenses and Bluetooth streaming for music and calls. The glasses can be purchased on the startup's website or through select eye care providers in the U.S., where they are eligible for coverage by vision insurance.

The launch comes a few weeks after Legato emerged from stealth with $12 million in funding from Neotribe Ventures, Listen and Village Global. Legato was founded in 2024 by Mehul Trivedi and Steve Romine. Trivedi led the creation of Bose Frames and later led smart eyewear efforts at EssilorLuxottica, working on Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, while Romine ran the hearing aids division at Bose and later served as COO of hearing care company Audicus.