Google Acquires AI Voice Startup Hume’s Core Team
▼ Summary
– Google DeepMind is hiring the CEO and several top engineers from voice AI startup Hume AI as part of a new licensing agreement to improve Gemini’s voice features.
– This “acquihire” is part of a trend where major AI firms like Google and OpenAI acquire startup teams to gain talent while avoiding the regulatory scrutiny of full company acquisitions.
– Hume AI’s core technology is an empathetic voice interface that can understand a user’s emotions and mood based on their voice.
– The deal underscores that voice is a major new frontier in AI, with companies like Google, OpenAI, and Meta all heavily investing in voice and audio capabilities.
– Demand for voice AI is growing, as evidenced by voice generation startup ElevenLabs reporting over $330 million in annual recurring revenue.
In a strategic move to bolster its conversational AI capabilities, Google DeepMind has secured the core team behind Hume AI, a pioneering voice intelligence startup. This arrangement, structured as a licensing agreement, sees Hume’s CEO Alan Cowen and approximately seven key engineers joining Google’s AI division. Their primary focus will be enhancing the voice features within the Gemini ecosystem. The remaining entity of Hume AI will continue to operate independently, licensing its proprietary technology to other firms. Financial specifics of the deal remain confidential.
This transaction exemplifies a growing trend where major technology firms acquire top-tier talent through “acquihires” rather than purchasing entire companies, a tactic that often avoids the intense regulatory scrutiny of traditional mergers and acquisitions. The Federal Trade Commission has recently indicated it will examine these types of talent-focused deals more closely. Google’s move follows its previous acquisition of the team from AI coding startup Windsurf, while OpenAI has similarly absorbed teams from several smaller firms in recent months.
The recruitment of Hume’s team underscores the intensifying competition in voice-based artificial intelligence. Hume AI’s distinguishing technology is its advanced model capable of detecting and interpreting human emotion and mood through vocal cues. The startup gained significant attention this year with the launch of its Empathetic Voice Interface, a conversational AI designed with emotional intelligence. Backed by nearly $80 million in funding, Hume AI is reportedly on track to generate $100 million in revenue this year.
Google is not alone in prioritizing voice as the next critical interface. The company has been consistently refining its Gemini Live feature, recently introducing a new native audio model to handle more complex conversational workflows. Meanwhile, OpenAI is reportedly preparing a major overhaul of its audio models, likely in support of a rumored audio-first wearable device developed in collaboration with designer Jony Ive. Meta has also entered the arena, acquiring startup Play AI last year to advance the audio capabilities of its Ray-Ban smart glasses, which increasingly rely on voice commands for a hands-free user experience.
Industry experts point to wearables as a primary driver for this shift. “Voice is the only acceptable input mode for wearables,” noted investor Vanessa Larco. “This acquisition will only accelerate the need for voice apps.” The market demand is clearly substantiated; AI voice generation company ElevenLabs recently announced it surpassed $330 million in annual recurring revenue, signaling robust commercial interest in sophisticated audio AI solutions.
(Source: TechCrunch)
