Summary:
Starkey President and CEO Brandon Sawalich has won the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award from the Business Intelligence Group, recognizing his leadership in advancing AI-powered hearing technology.

Key Takeaways:

  1. AI Leadership Recognition: Sawalich’s award highlights Starkey’s pioneering role in integrating AI into hearing aids to enhance human connection and well-being.
  2. Innovative AI-Powered Solutions: Starkey was the first to embed AI in hearing aids, offering features like real-time translation, fall detection, and brain health tracking.
  3. G2 Neuro Processor Advancements: Starkey’s latest AI-driven technology improves speech clarity, reduces background noise, and optimizes performance without compromising battery life.

Starkey President and CEO Brandon Sawalich has been named a winner of the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award by the Business Intelligence Group (BIG). This distinguished honor recognizes his leadership in driving AI innovation within the hearing industry.

“Starkey is leading an era of excellence where artificial intelligence is not just an innovation but a driving force for transforming lives,” says Sawalich. “We believe AI is more than just technology—it’s a means to empower people, enhance human connection, and improve overall well-being. This award is a testament to our relentless drive to push the boundaries of what’s possible, ensuring that we continue to lead the industry with groundbreaking advancements that set new standards in hearing technology.”

Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards

The Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards celebrate organizations, products, and individuals that are revolutionizing industries with AI-driven advancements. Honorees are selected by a panel of industry experts for their contributions to predictive analytics, generative AI, explainable AI, and beyond.

AI-Powered Solutions

Under Sawalich’s leadership, Starkey has pursued innovation with AI-powered solutions designed to improve lives. According to the company, Starkey was the first to incorporate embedded AI into hearing aids, transforming them into multifunctional health and communication devices, and developed industry-first features like real-time language translation, fall detection, and brain health tracking to expand intelligent hearing technology.

G2 Neuro Processor

At the core of this innovation is the G2 Neuro Processor, the next generation of advanced technology from Starkey. Equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) with enhanced Deep Neural Network (DNN) processing capabilities, Starkey’s Edge AI is designed to provide excellent performance without compromising its battery life. According to the company, this technology enhances speech clarity, reduces background noise, and adapts seamlessly to various listening environments to deliver an exceptional hearing experience.

For more information about Starkey’s AI-driven hearing technology, visit www.starkey.com.