Google hires Hume AI team to boost Gemini voice capabilities

Google DeepMind is hiring the CEO and several top engineers from Hume AI as part of a licensing agreement. Under the deal, Hume AI CEO Alan Cowen and about seven other engineers will join Google DeepMind to work on improving the voice features of Google’s Gemini models. The transaction is structured as a licensing agreement rather than a full company acquisition, allowing Hume AI to continue operating and supplying its technology to other firms. Andrew Ettinger, an investor and tech executive who joined Hume AI last week, has taken over as the startup’s new CEO. Ettinger stated that Google has a non-exclusive right to certain technologies, which will be infused into Google’s processes.

The deal highlights the accelerating competition in the voice AI sector, where companies are racing to build audio-first capabilities. Hume AI, which launched its Empathetic Voice Interface in 2024 to detect user emotions through voice, is competing against other technology firms and specialized startups. Competitors like Meta and OpenAI are also investing heavily in audio; OpenAI is reportedly preparing to overhaul its audio models for an audio-first personal device. Meanwhile, Google has been updating its Gemini Live feature, recently releasing a native audio model to help the system manage complex workflows. The financial scale of the sector is reflected in the performance of both Hume AI and its competitors:

• Hume AI is on track to bring in $100 million in revenue this year.
• The startup has raised close to $80 million in total funding to date.
• Competitor ElevenLabs recently reported reaching $330 million in annual recurring revenue.

This transaction represents the latest acqui-hire—defined as an acquisition primarily for talent—where a technology firm secures a startup’s team rather than buying the company outright. This strategy is drawing close attention from the Federal Trade Commission, the US antitrust regulator. The agency is taking a closer look at deals where AI firms acquire startup teams, skirting regulatory scrutiny.

Despite the team transition, Hume AI plans to release new models in the coming months. Industry investors view the transaction as validation of the growing importance of voice-based interfaces, particularly for hardware. “Voice is the only acceptable input mode for wearables,” said investor Vanessa Larco, who noted that the acquisition will only accelerate the need for voice applications.

Why it matters

The deal underscores a growing trend where AI labs secure top talent through licensing and team acquisitions, a practice now under the microscope of US regulators concerned about market consolidation.