Google DeepMind acquires Hume AI’s core team to boost Geminis emotionally intelligent voice capabilities—marking a major shift in AI human interaction
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Google Snags Team Behind AI Voice Startup Hume AI
Voice AI Breakthrough: Google DeepMind Acquires Hume AI’s Emotional Intelligence Team In a move that signals the next evolution of human-AI interaction, Google DeepMind has quietly acquired the leadership and engineering talent behind Hume AI—a startup pioneering emotionally intelligent voice technology. The deal, structured as a licensing agreement with an acqui-hire component, brings Hume AI CEO Alan Cowen and roughly seven top engineers into Google’s fold to enhance the voice capabilities of its flagship Gemini AI. While Hume AI will continue operating independently, supplying its tech to other firms, the real prize for Google is clear: emotional intelligence in voice. Credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg / Getty Images This acquisition isn’t just about better sound—it’s about understanding how we speak, not just what we say. And it positions Google at the forefront of a rapidly emerging frontier where AI doesn’t just respond, but relates . Why Emotional Voice AI Matters Now More Than Ev…
