The top talent behind another promising AI startup has been tapped by an incumbent. As part of a new license agreement, Google DeepMind brought the CEO and several top engineers of voice AI startup Hume AI, reports Wired.
The remainder of Hume AI will continue to provide technology to other AI companies. There are no financial details of the deal.
TechCrunch has reached out to Google and Hume AI to confirm the news.
CEO Alan Cowen and about seven other engineers will work with DeepMind to improve Gemini’s voice features, according to Wired.
Hume’s acquisition is the latest example of an AI company leading the market and fending off regulatory scrutiny by acquiring a startup team rather than the company itself. last year, Google acquires CEO of AI coding virus startup Windsurf and other top researchers, and OpenAI has acquired several startup teams in recent months, including Covogo and Roi. Federal Trade Commission recently said who will take a closer look at such an offer.
The deal also suggests that voice is the next frontier in AI.
The secret sauce of Hume AI is the model’s ability to understand the user’s emotions and moods based on their voice. In 2024, the beginning opened an Empathetic Voice InterfaceConversational AI with emotional intelligence. Hume AI has raised nearly $80 million so far according to PitchBook, and expects to raise $100 million this year, per Wired.
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But Hume AI isn’t the only company working on voice-focused models. Google has continued to improve its Gemini Live feature, which allows users to chat with chatbots. Last month, Google released a new native audio model for the Live API that improved the model’s ability to “handle complex workflows,” per Gemini API release notes.
Others in the industry are investing heavily in voice capabilities as well. OpenAI is the news prepare to review the audio model in preparation for its first personal audio device, made with Jonny Ive’s io, to start this year. A recent leak suggests the device might be the shape of the earbuds.
Last year, Meta also accelerated the AI audio push by own the start of Play AI. Facebook maker Ray-Ban’s smart glasses are increasingly relying on voice and audio capabilities for tasks like helps you hear conversations in noisy rooms and enables hands-free control of calls, texts, music, and photos.
“Voice is the only acceptable input mode for wearables,” investor Vanessa Larco told TechCrunch. “This acquisition will only accelerate the need for voice applications.”
Demand continues to increase for voice capabilities. Earlier this month, ElevenLabs, an AI voice generation startup, said crossed $ 330 million in annual recurring revenue.