One rainy Thursday afternoon near Taipei Arena, the Taipei Experience Center of RelaJet was fully booked with appointments from people with hearing loss eager to try hearing aids made with a voice separation engine For the hearing impaired, having affordable, lightweight, and effective noise-reducing hearing aids is truly a blessing 'We hope to help users in need to hear the world's wonders again' This empathetic expectation by RelaJet's founder and CEO Po-Ju Chen, who is also hearing impaired, illustrates his understanding of the needs of the hearing impaired He hopes that RelaJet's unique voice amplification hearing aid technology will benefit many more people Affordable hearing aids benefit many with hearing loss Founded in 2018 by Po-Ju Chen and his brother Yu-Ren Chen, RelaJet developed a multi-voice separation engine paired with Qualcomm's Bluetooth audio platform, drastically reducing the price of imported hearing aids, typically costing 80,000-100,000 NT dollars, to just under 10,000 NT dollars They aim to develop affordable goods with excellent noise-cancelling capabilities that wirelessly connect to smartphones In its first two years, the company primarily developed the multi-voice separation engine, which significantly improved the noise reduction quality Once equipped with Qualcomm Bluetooth earphone chips, the audio processing time is drastically short, at about 7 milliseconds to enhance main voice projection and reduce ambient noise, less than half the time required by traditional medical standard of 16 milliseconds for hearing aids, nearly 'zero-delay' 洞見未來科技推出平價助輔聽器，大大嘉惠聽損者 Yu-Ren Chen explains that the primary use of Qualcomm chips for edge computing, along with a streamlined algorithm, achieves extremely low latency and better noise reduction The hearing aids can cover 18 channels, whereas traditional hearing aids cover 4-48 channels In the future, RelaJet will progressively increase the number of channels According to statistics, there are 470 million people globally with hearing disabilities, with a 30 average device use rate in developed countries, with the highest in Western countries Taiwan has nearly 15 million people with disabling hearing loss, of which the middle-aged and elderly make up 30, yet the device use rate is only about 10, which is quite low Yu-Ren Chen further analyzes that the low device usage rate is due to two reasons firstly, the high average selling price of international big brands ranges from 80,000 to 200,000 NT dollars with a three-year usability period, which deters many due to the high cost and maintenance Secondly, in noisy environments, the noise is also amplified which does not necessarily ensure clarity for the users, and the sound parameters can't be adjusted in real-time, making it inconvenient to frequently visit stores for tuning Thirdly, most models cannot connect to smartphones, making it inconvenient for the hearing impaired to take phone calls Utilizing Qualcomm Bluetooth chips for rapid product development In light of this, Po-Ju Chen, formerly a semiconductor engineer at MediaTek, leads the technical development, while Yu-Ren Chen, with a legal background, manages the operations Their seamless collaboration, along with their team employing AI algorithms and chip integration, learns from thousands of hours of audio files in databases through neural networks and deep learning technologies to develop low-latency, high-noise-reduction voice amplification technologies for hearing aids In 2019, this sound processing technology was integrated into Qualcomm Bluetooth chips, winning first place in the Qualcomm Taiwan Startup Competition and becoming a partner in Qualcomm's Global Expansion Program, significantly boosting product development pace In 2021, they launched their own Otoadd series of hearingenhancement products in Taiwan, which received both market favor and positive reviews from many with hearing loss Based on different consumer needs, various product designs are available According to Yu-Ren Chen, the Otoadd wireless earphones with hearing enhancement functions, model N1, are entry-level neckband style priced at 9,500 NT per pair Users can wear the hearing aid while taking calls, and control noise reduction strength and volume through a mobile app They plan to develop accessories in the future tailored to the needs of older adults Besides being available for trials at experience centers in Taipei and Kaohsiung, this hearing aid is also sold through PChome, Taiwan Mobile's myfone, and Elder Age networks, among other channels Another model intended for individuals with mild to severe hearing loss is the Classic R hearing aid, which received the Japanese Good Design Award in 2021 Since its market debut last year, it has attracted those with congenital hearing loss, with users noting improved clarity in noisy environments and appreciating the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity for calls and watching videos This product is anticipated to be exported to international markets in the latter half of this year Additionally, a hearing aid product combining Bluetooth functionality, set to launch in June this year, is sized like typical Bluetooth earphones, targeting visually conscious consumers with hearing loss Its small size and attractive wireless earphone design allow for phone calls, and if approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, eligible users can apply for government subsidies RelaJet to expand into overseas markets, using the USA as a beachhead An interesting question arises due to the pandemic everyone must wear masks which impedes lip-reading How does this affect those with hearing loss Yu-Ren Chen indicates that this situation highlights RelaJet's advantages As each person with hearing loss has different levels of hearing ability, hearing aids can only augment to an appropriate volume, assisting users to hear about 60-70 content, with the remainder relying on lip reading and gestures During the pandemic, as everyone wears masks, masks also muffle sounds, but RelaJet's voice separation engine can correct and strengthen the separation, making it easier for those with hearing loss to recognize voices Besides the Taiwan market, RelaJet's next stage will be expanding into overseas markets, expecting to obtain ISO 13485 medical device quality management system certification and US medical device approval in 2022 They plan to enter the US market, either under their own brand or through OEM arrangements Apart from the Taiwan market, RelaJet will also enter the US market in the next phase for hearing aids「Translated content is generated by ChatGPT and is for reference only Translation date：2024-05-19」

Artificial intelligence AI has gradually changed the way various industries operate in recent years However, most of the work is still done by humans, with AI playing a supporting role This has led to emergence of the term "AI Copilot," which stands for "AI-driven tools or assistants" that aim to assist users in completing various tasks and improve productivity and efficiency The concept of AI Copilot comes from the role of "co-pilot" During flight, the co-pilot assists the main pilot in completing various tasks to ensure flight safety and efficiency In fact, there have been signs of various "machines" beginning to play the role of "copilot" in different fields since the Industrial Revolution, assisting humans in completing heavy physical and repetitive tasks, greatly improving factory production efficiency, and driving rapid economic development Following the advancement of computing equipment and breakthroughs in machine learning, deep learning, and image recognition technologies, the concept of AI Copilot has gradually taken shape The development of AI Copilot marks the transition from "machine-assisted to AI-assisted" Early robots could only complete preset repetitive tasks, but today's AI copilot can learn and adapt to new environments and tasks, and continuously optimize its performance in practical applications This transformation not only changes human-machine interactions, but also has a profound impact on various industries The application scope of AI copilot covers various industries, including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, education, retail, etc, and are everywhere to be seen Application of AI copilot in the retail industry AI image recognition checkout In the retail industry, the application of AI copilot has begun to show concrete results Take Viscovery's AI image recognition checkout system as an example This system is a type of AI copilot model that helps store clerks speed up checkout or assists consumers in simplifying the self-service checkout process The store clerk needs to scan the product barcodes one by one in the regular checkout method If a product does not have a barcode, such as bread and meals, the clerk needs to first visually confirm the items, and then input them into the POS checkout system one by one Based on actual measurements at a chain bakery, it takes 22 seconds for an experienced clerk from "visual recognition" to "entering product information of a plate of 6 items into the checkout system" New clerks may need even more time In addition, according to a Japanese bakery operator, it takes 1 to 2 months to train employees to become familiar with products Now with AI image recognition technology, store clerks let AI handle the "product recognition" step, and AI will play the role of copilot, quickly identifying items within 1 second, speeding up checkout to save 50 of checkout time, and optimizing customers'shopping experience The time cost of training employees to identify bread can also be effectively shortened Even for products with barcodes, AI can quickly identify multiple items in one second, which is more efficient than scanning barcodes one by one The self-checkout system "assisted" by AI image recognition allows consumers to successfully complete shopping without the help of store clerks, eliminating the trouble of swiping barcodes or searching for items on the screen, which improves the shopping experience In a time when store clerks are hard to hire due to labor shortage, this also helps stores reduce operating costs AI quickly identifies multiple checkout items in just one second Source of image Viscovery Recently, startups dedicated to developing AI image recognition checkout solutions have emerged in various countries The most lightweight solution currently known is in Taiwan It can be immediately used by installing a Viscovery lens and a tablet installed with Viscovery AI image recognition software at the checkout counter to connect to the store's existing POS checkout system There are various integration methods, including plug-and-play and API solutions integrated with the store's POS system Viscovery AI image recognition system can be painlessly integrated with the store's existing POS system Source of image Viscovery Example of AI image recognition checkout Currently, the Viscovery AI image recognition system is being used in bakery chains in Taiwan, Chinese noodle shops in Singapore, micromarkets in department stores in Sendai, Japan, and Japanese bakeries and cake shops Over 7 million transactions were completed through this AI system, which identified more than 40 million items These use cases demonstrate the extensive application of the Viscovery AI image recognition system in the retail industry In the future, the company will continue to explore the various possibilities of using Vision AI in retail and catering nbsp The Viscovery AI image recognition system is already being used in bakeries, cake shops, restaurants, and convenience stores in Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan Source of image Viscovery

With "Voice as a Service VaaS", VM-Fi Inc launched the world's leading 5G real-time AI voice translation service "VM-Fi," providing AI real-time translation subtitles TranSpeech and AI multi-lingual smart counter TransDisplay The service is applied to real-time translation services in diverse fields, such as international exhibitions, tourism industry, and retail stores The translation service can be quickly set up in 15 minutes, which can significantly reduce the customer's interpretation service cost by 50, creating benefits in terms of time and labor costs This killer application is a product launched by VM-Fi, which has been established for three years It can significantly reduce the cost of interpretation by half It successfully entered the Japanese market and is highly popular among consumers TranSpeech real-time subtitles for speeches and TransDisplay smart counter AI service solution For organizers of international forums and exhibitions, paying high interpretation fees has always been a common pain point hard to put into words According to statistics, to hold an all-English forum in Taiwan, including two interpreters, setting up an interpretation booth, on-site radio station, control panel, and audio, the total cost will be at least NT100,000 to meet the on-site interpretation needs Established in September 2020, VM-Fi launched the "VM-Fi 5G real-time AI voice translation service" In just 2 years, and successively won the Mobileheroes of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Industrial Development Bureau, Start-up competition in the Smart City Project, Qualcomm Innovate in Taiwan Challenge QITC, Japan's JR Kyushu Innovative Business Competition Excellence Award, and the CES 2022 Innovation Award It has not only received praises in the market, but also attracted great attention from Taiwanese investors and was adopted by large Japanese trading companies It hopes to help people around the world avoid communication barriers through smart city solutions, and enjoy a convenient life in smart cities 5G real-time AI voice translation does not require expensive interpreters and equipment and reduces the interpretation cost by 50 The VM-Fi team, which has a solid technical foundation in language translation, digital content, and UX development, has learned that only 20 of high-end consumers in the market can afford the high cost of interpretation To meet the remaining 80 of market demand, VM-Fi combines 5G high-speed transmission and AI voice recognition technology help customers reduce labor and costs Its business solutions can be applied in international exhibitions, tourism services, shopping malls, and online and offline business meetings 5G high-speed AI speech translation service process "Unlike traditional interpreters' sentence-by-sentence interpretation, which is a time-consuming and inefficient process that prevents the audience from smoothly listening to a speech," VM-Fi further stated that the real-time AI speech translation service uses AI algorithms to analyze the speakers speech The AI determines the parts of speech and subject of the speaker, and then immediately translates it The lecturer does not need to wait for the interpreter, and only needs to connect the microphone cable to the VM-Fi 5G real-time AI voice translation service to speak freely The audience can immediately read the translated subtitles 5G real-time AI voice translation was used in the Kyoto Smart City Summit amp Expo for two consecutive years in 2022-2023 The "VM-Fi 5G real-time AI voice translation service" currently supports Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, and German, providing translation services between these seven languages During the pandemic, when the demand for online activities increased significantly, VM-Fi introduced the world's first real-time subtitle service solution The contents spoken by the foreign speaker is translated in real-time and displayed on the live broadcast screen, allowing the audience to understand contents shared by the speaker in real time The operation method is also very simple Audiences do not need to download the APP All they need to do is open the Youtube or Facebook live broadcast platforms provided by the organizer The real-time subtitle solution not only saves customers the trouble of translation work, but also allows online listeners to enjoy seamless real-time translation services without any worries Real-time subtitles provide audiences with seamless real-time translation service In addition, the smart counter solution TransDisplay launched by VM-Fi in Japan is also very popular among consumers VM-Fi stated that Japan has a large elderly population and a large number of tourists Especially during the pandemic, most consumers wore masks and there was often a gap in communication The smart counter directly converts the communication between two parties from voice to text and displays on the transparent partition, providing the most considerate service that the public can clearly see at a glance In the future, VM-Fi will work with Taiwanese panel manufacturers, integrating software and hardware to provide voice-to-real-time subtitle translation services in Japanrsquos shopping malls, stations, airports, and government agencies Smart counters provided people with friendly communication services during the pandemic User experience is the key to VM-Fi taking root in the Japanese market Facing the explosive growth of cross-border tourism business opportunities after the pandemic, VM-Fi is confident in business expansion VM-Fi stated that the VM-Fi 5G real-time AI voice translation service has demonstrated excellent product and service resilience during the pandemic, and can flexibly meet customer needs for various physical or online services VM-Fi plans to establish a headquarters in Japan before April 2025, and actively cooperates with Kansai and Kyoto prefectural and municipal governments to expand its operations After establishing a solid foundation in the Japanese market, the EU market will be the next important target VM-Fi participated in fundraising activities of the AI Founders Alliance of the AI Program of the Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs The company relied on the assistance of the Institute for Information Technology III, Taiwan-Japan Industrial Collaboration Promotion Office TJPO, and the Japan External Trade Organization JETRO to actively seize Japan's market "Japan's market not only values digital transformation, but also user experience UX" Therefore, after the successful launch in Japan, everything will fall into place when it expands to other markets around the world VM-Fi app in Japan's shopping malls, stations, airports, and government agencies VM-Fi is a startup with passion and innovative spirit nbspfounded in 2020 We focus on AI speech recognition and real-time translation technologies, and are committed to allowing people around the world to enjoy high-speed speech translation during international speeches, at service counters, and during communication, completely removing the language barrier and allowing everyone to enjoy equal rights to information VM-Fi's AI service is not only a technological innovation, but also a commitment to global sustainable development A Digital solutions We are committed to reducing paper use Every sheet of A4 paper saved reduces carbon emissions by 78 grams, using practical digital solutions to promote environmental protection B Renewable energy decisions We choose cloud services that use renewable energy and plan to achieve the goal of using cloud services that use 100 renewable energy by 2025, in order to create a greener technology foundation for the future C Water saving decisions We are committed to using cloud services that achieve positive water benefits before 2030, ensuring that the replenishment of water resources exceeds consumption, and contributing to the future of the Earth D Net zero emission decisions When using new data centers, we will choose net-zero deforestation to protect the natural environment E Sustainable development goals Through the decisions above, we are making active efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDGs 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 13, exerting every effort to create a better world VM-Fi's vision is to create a world without communication barriers, allowing everyone to communicate freely and jointly move toward a better future Let us work together to contribute to global communication equality and sustainable development, and create a greener and better future nbsp