Another promising AI startup sees its top talent scooped up by an established player. As part of a new licensing agreement, Google DeepMind is bringing on board Hume AI's CEO and several of its top engineers.
The remainder of Hume AI will continue offering its technology to other AI firms. The financial specifics of the deal have not been disclosed.
Reports indicate that CEO Alan Cowen and roughly seven other engineers will collaborate with DeepMind to enhance Gemini's voice capabilities.
Hume's acquisition is the latest example of leading AI companies bypassing regulatory scrutiny by acquiring startup teams rather than the companies themselves. Last year, Google acquired the CEO and other top researchers from the viral AI coding startup Windsurf, while OpenAI has acquired several startup teams in recent months, including Covogo and Roi. The Federal Trade Commission has recently stated it will scrutinize such deals more closely.
This deal also underscores that voice is becoming the next frontier in AI.
Hume AI's secret weapon is its model's ability to understand user emotions and moods based on their voice. In 2024, the startup launched its emotionally intelligent conversational AI, the Empathetic Voice Interface. According to PitchBook, Hume AI has raised nearly $80 million to date and is projected to generate $100 million in revenue this year.
However, Hume AI is not the only company focused on voice models. Google has been steadily improving its Gemini Live feature, which allows users to converse with the chatbot. Last month, Google released a new native audio model for the Live API, enhancing the model's ability to "handle complex workflows," as noted in the Gemini API release notes.
Other industry players are also heavily investing in voice capabilities. Reports suggest OpenAI is preparing a major overhaul of its audio models in anticipation of launching an audio-first personal device developed in collaboration with Jony Ive's io. Recent leaks indicate the device might be a form of earbuds.
Last year, Meta also accelerated its AI audio push by acquiring startup Play AI. The Facebook maker's Ray-Ban smart glasses increasingly rely on voice and audio features for tasks like helping you hear conversations in noisy rooms and enabling hands-free control of calls, texts, music, and photos.
"Voice is the only acceptable input mode for wearables," noted investor Vanessa Larc. "This acquisition will only accelerate the demand for voice applications."
Demand for voice features continues to surge. Earlier this month, AI voice generation startup ElevenLabs announced its annual recurring revenue has surpassed $330 million.
