CHALLENGE

Worldwide, more than 70 million people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience anxiety and panic attacks triggered by hypersensitivity to everyday sounds.

In Spain alone, 450,000 people with ASD live in one of the noisiest and most socially intense countries in the world, where traditional noise-cancellation solutions isolate users instead of helping them interact safely with their environment. 

SOLUTION

Cheil Spain and Samsung developed Unfear, a free AI-powered app for Galaxy Buds2 Pro that transforms existing wearable technology into an adaptative sound protection tool for people with ASD. Using real-time sound recognition and machine learning, Unfear selectively suppresses stressful noises while preserving meaningful audio, offering multiple modes to reduce anxiety, support focus and improve emotional well-being, without disconnecting users from the world around them.

RESULTS



Launched ahead of World Autism Awareness Day, Unfear generated widespread attention with coverage from over 200 local and international media, reaching 1 million in earned media value. Developed in collaboration with 10 autism associations and members of the ASD community, the app achieved over 5,000 downloads, a 4.7/5 user rating, and received more than 60 international awards. Scientifically endorsed by the Spanish Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Unfear stands as a high-impact innovation within Samsung's Technology with Purpose initiative.