Google is expanding its voice AI capabilities by bringing the leadership and core engineering team behind Hume AI into Google DeepMind under a new licensing agreement. The move adds experienced voice and emotional-intelligence researchers to Google’s Gemini efforts, while allowing Hume AI to continue operating independently.

The deal was first reported by Wired and reflects a broader trend of major AI companies acquiring startup talent through so-called “acqui-hire” agreements rather than outright acquisitions.

As part of the agreement, Alan Cowen, CEO of Hume AI, along with approximately seven senior engineers, will join Google DeepMind, according to Wired. Their focus will be improving Gemini’s voice capabilities, an area Google has been steadily investing in.

No financial terms were disclosed. Andrew Ettinger, an investor and tech executive who joined Hume AI last week and has taken over as CEO, told TechCrunch that Google received a non-exclusive right to certain technologies, which will be incorporated into Google’s internal processes.

Despite the departure of its CEO and several engineers, Hume AI will continue operating as a standalone company and will continue to supply its technology to other AI firms. Ettinger said the startup plans to release new models in the coming months and is on track to generate $100 million in revenue this year.

According to PitchBook, Hume AI has raised nearly $80 million to date. The company will continue licensing its technology to other AI firms, maintaining its role in the broader AI ecosystem.

Hume AI is known for its work on emotionally aware voice models, designed to understand a user’s emotions and moods based on their voice. In 2024, the company launched its Empathetic Voice Interface, a conversational AI system built to respond with emotional intelligence.

Google has been advancing its own voice efforts in parallel. The company’s Gemini Live feature enables spoken conversations with the chatbot, and last month Google released a native audio model for the Live API, improving its ability to handle more complex voice-driven workflows, according to Gemini API release notes.

The Hume AI agreement fits into a wider pattern of AI companies acquiring teams rather than entire startups. Last year, Google brought in the CEO and top researchers from AI coding startup Windsurf, while OpenAI has completed similar deals involving startups such as Convogo and Roi.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has said it plans to take a closer look at these arrangements, which allow companies to absorb talent while avoiding traditional merger scrutiny.

Other major AI players are also investing heavily in voice capabilities. OpenAI is reportedly preparing new audio models ahead of this year’s launch of an audio-first personal device being developed with Jony Ive’s io, with reports suggesting the product could take the form of earbuds.

Meta has accelerated its audio strategy as well, acquiring startup Play AI and expanding voice features in its Ray-Ban smart glasses, which support hands-free calls, messaging, music playback, photography, and audio assistance in noisy environments.

Investor Vanessa Larco told TechCrunch that voice is becoming essential for wearable devices, saying, “Voice is the only acceptable input mode for wearables.”

Demand for voice AI continues to grow. Earlier this month, ElevenLabs, an AI voice generation company, reported crossing $330 million in annual recurring revenue, highlighting rising enterprise and consumer interest in voice-driven systems.

Q: What is Google acquiring from Hume AI?
A: Google is bringing Hume AI’s CEO and several top engineers into Google DeepMind under a licensing agreement, rather than acquiring the company outright.

Q: Will Hume AI continue to operate?
A: Yes. Hume AI will continue operating independently and licensing its technology to other AI firms.

Q: What technologies is Google licensing?
A: Google received a non-exclusive right to certain Hume AI technologies, though specific details were not disclosed.

Q: What is Hume AI best known for?
A: Hume AI specializes in emotionally aware voice models, including its Empathetic Voice Interface launched in 2024.

Q: Why are AI companies pursuing acqui-hire deals?
A: These arrangements allow companies to bring in specialized talent quickly while avoiding the regulatory scrutiny that often accompanies full acquisitions.

This deal isn’t just about adding voice features to Gemini — it reflects how central voice is becoming to the next phase of AI interaction. As AI systems move beyond text and screens, the ability to listen, interpret tone, and respond appropriately is increasingly tied to usability, trust, and adoption.

For users, emotionally aware voice systems could shape how comfortable they feel using AI in real time — especially in situations where typing isn’t practical or where context and nuance matter. For developers and companies building AI products, voice is emerging as a competitive layer that can differentiate assistants that feel helpful from those that feel transactional.

The agreement also highlights how large AI platforms are competing less on access to raw data and more on specialized talent. By bringing in teams with deep expertise in voice and emotion recognition, companies like Google are prioritizing human-centered capabilities that are difficult to replicate quickly.

As voice-first devices, wearables, and assistants continue to evolve, the ability to understand how something is said — not just what is said — may determine which AI systems feel natural enough to become part of everyday life.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.