Researchers in the US have used artificial intelligence to produce noise-cancelling headphones that allow users to select which sounds they hear – or don't – from amplifying birdsong to blocking out the noise of a busy road.
Using deep-learning algorithms that allow users to make choices in real time, “semantic hearing” has been tested on about 20 specific noises, including sirens, a baby’s cry and a dog’s bark.
The system enables a person to programme their headphones to block out the sound of a vacuum but let them hear if someone knocks on the door.
The researchers believe that as their system can be trained to deal with any sound it could be of great use to people who suffer from sensory conditions such as misophonia, in which a noise generally considered normal, such as the clicking of a pen, can force a person from the room.
“You’re talking about augmenting human auditory perception with AI,” said Shyam Gollakota, professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Washington.
“When people hear about AI, they’re thinking about ChatGPT. Chatboxes are good if you want to make money. But I think if you’re talking about how you can augment human capability, it’s going to be really transformational for people.”
The National visited the team’s Seattle laboratory to try out the headphones and put them to the test.
Malek Itani, one of Dr Gollakota’s doctoral students and one of the system’s creators, played a succession of sounds the system had been taught to hear.
Eventually, users will have an app on a smartphone to control the sounds but for the trial a laptop programmed to block or unblock half a dozen noises was used. The headsets can also be set to cancel all noises or none.
Most startling was when Mr Itani switched on a vacuum cleaner, a sound I had blocked on the headphones, only for him to walk up behind me and knock on the desk, a nose I could hear even through the vacuum remained muted.
“There are all sort of possibilities for this,” he said with a smile.
Dr Gollakota said the project aimed to do several things simultaneously: identify all sounds in an environment and separate the target sound, while preserving its direction so users know where it is coming from – and it needs to do it within a few milliseconds of audio.
This must also be achieved without the large cloud computing usually associated with AI, but with a phone.
“We designed the first real-time neural network that can extract these target sounds and run in real time on smartphones,” Dr Gollakota said.
In November, the team revealed its findings at the Association for Computing Machinery Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology in San Francisco, California.
The team is looking to release a commercial version of the system to see the different ways their discovery might be used.
Already their work has triggered intense interest among the millions of people around the world who suffer from an auditory and sensory condition known as misophonia.
Misophonia is a disorder of decreased tolerance towards specific sounds or the stimuli associated with such sounds. These stimuli, known as “triggers”, can be unpleasant or distressing, and tend to evoke strong negative emotional, physiological and behavioural responses.
Sounds that trigger such responses include another person’s chewing and the washing of crockery.
For those who suffer most acutely, misophonia can be utterly debilitating and studies show it can affect a person’s education, professional life and relationships. Studies have linked it to a higher rate of depression and even suicide.
Cris Edwards, founder of the group soQuiet, says for some people – himself included – the sound of a person crinkling a bag or eating biscuits might be enough to drive a student from a classroom.
“It has a profound effect on a person's life,” Mr Edwards explained. “It's very common for me to be at a grocery store and if somebody is popping their gum, I have to leave and come back and shop later. It can be very isolating.”
Mr Edwards says his group has been in touch with the team at the University of Washington and believes semantic hearing could be a huge help.
“If it works as they say it does, this could be a miraculous assistive technology for people with misophonia,” he said.
Zachary Rosenthal, professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and a leading expert in the little-known disorder, says a forthcoming paper suggests about 5 per cent of people suffer from misophonia.
This would mean there are millions of people around the world whose lives are severely affected by noise.
Studies show the way misophonia affects a person can vary greatly, Dr Rosenthal said.
While a teenager may be “triggered” by the sounds their parents make while eating a meal, they might not have the same reaction around their friends. The reaction can also change day to day.
“Some people get triggered by some things in one situation. And then in the next situation, with the same trigger, don't get triggered as much,” says Dr Rosenthal, who is part of Duke’s Centre for Misophonia and Emotion Regulation.
Dr Rosenthal believes semantic hearing could be “transformational”, allowing sufferers to enjoy meals with their families or attend school without fear.
He gave the example of a person going to the cinema and having an intense reaction to someone behind them eating popcorn or rattling ice in a cup.
“The person would be able to stay in the movie and when they anticipate – because someone sits down behind them – they might hear crunching, they don't have to leave, they can just press the button on the app – the crunching button,” he explained.
“And now they're going to hear everything else except crunching. Game-changer.
“[This is] something that could be transformational around the world and help reduce suffering for countless millions of people – it's that big of a deal.”
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Representing%20UAE%20overseas
%3Cp%3E%0DIf%20Catherine%20Richards%20debuts%20for%20Wales%20in%20the%20Six%20Nations%2C%20she%20will%20be%20the%20latest%20to%20have%20made%20it%20from%20the%20UAE%20to%20the%20top%20tier%20of%20the%20international%20game%20in%20the%20oval%20ball%20codes.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESeren%20Gough-Walters%20(Wales%20rugby%20league)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EBorn%20in%20Dubai%2C%20raised%20in%20Sharjah%2C%20and%20once%20an%20immigration%20officer%20at%20the%20British%20Embassy%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20she%20debuted%20for%20Wales%20in%20rugby%20league%20in%202021.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESophie%20Shams%20(England%20sevens)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EWith%20an%20Emirati%20father%20and%20English%20mother%2C%20Shams%20excelled%20at%20rugby%20at%20school%20in%20Dubai%2C%20and%20went%20on%20to%20represent%20England%20on%20the%20sevens%20circuit.%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFiona%20Reidy%20(Ireland)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMade%20her%20Test%20rugby%20bow%20for%20Ireland%20against%20England%20in%202015%2C%20having%20played%20for%20four%20years%20in%20the%20capital%20with%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%20previously.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Fixtures
Sunday, December 8, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v USA
Monday, December 9, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – USA v Scotland
Wednesday, December 11, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v Scotland
Thursday, December 12, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v USA
Saturday, December 14, ICC Academy, Dubai – USA v Scotland
Sunday, December 15, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v Scotland
Note: All matches start at 10am, admission is free
Fixtures
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWednesday%2C%20April%203%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EArsenal%20v%20Luton%20Town%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EManchester%20City%20v%20Aston%20Villa%2C%2011.15pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EThursday%2C%20April%204%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELiverpool%20v%20Sheffield%20United%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
England World Cup squad
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
The five pillars of Islam
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
The specs: 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Price, base / as tested Dh97,600
Engine 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight v-twin engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 78hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque 145Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.0L / 100km (estimate)
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
UK%20record%20temperature
%3Cp%3E38.7C%20(101.7F)%20set%20in%20Cambridge%20in%202019%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Brief scoreline:
Toss: South Africa, elected to bowl first
England (311-8): Stokes 89, Morgan 57, Roy 54, Root 51; Ngidi 3-66
South Africa (207): De Kock 68, Van der Dussen 50; Archer 3-27, Stokes 2-12
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
EMILY%20IN%20PARIS%3A%20SEASON%203
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info-box
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Happy Tenant
Started: January 2019
Co-founders: Joe Moufarrej and Umar Rana
Based: Dubai
Sector: Technology, real-estate
Initial investment: Dh2.5 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 4,000
ICC men's cricketer of the year
2004 - Rahul Dravid (IND) ; 2005 - Jacques Kallis (SA) and Andrew Flintoff (ENG); 2006 - Ricky Ponting (AUS); 2007 - Ricky Ponting; 2008 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI); 2009 - Mitchell Johnson (AUS); 2010 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND); 2011 - Jonathan Trott (ENG); 2012 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL); 2013 - Michael Clarke (AUS); 2014 - Mitchell Johnson; 2015 - Steve Smith (AUS); 2016 - Ravichandran Ashwin (IND); 2017 - Virat Kohli (IND); 2018 - Virat Kohli; 2019 - Ben Stokes (ENG); 2021 - Shaheen Afridi
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
