Google DeepMind Hires Hume AI’s Leadership in Voice AI Push

[madmax]

Google DeepMind has brought on the CEO and several senior engineers from voice AI startup Hume AI as part of a new licensing agreement, signaling a renewed push to strengthen Gemini’s voice capabilities. Wired first reported that Hume AI CEO Alan Cowen and around seven engineers will join DeepMind to work specifically on improving voice features.

The deal is structured as a talent and IP licensing arrangement rather than a full acquisition. According to Hume AI’s new CEO Andrew Ettinger, Google now has a non-exclusive right to Hume’s intellectual property, which will be integrated into DeepMind’s internal processes. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the move continues a trend of major AI firms recruiting startup teams without acquiring the companies outright.

[cryptobro]

as voice-driven ai grows, these talent-focused deals will probably become the norm. expect more regulatory scrutiny down the line.