Hume AI
Empathetic technology platform for understanding human emotions.
Acquired Hume AI
Acquired · January 2026
Still operating. On January 22, 2026 Google DeepMind signed a licensing deal with Hume AI, the emotionally intelligent voice AI company, and hired CEO Alan Cowen and about seven engineers. Google non-exclusively licensed certain Hume technologies; terms were undisclosed. This was a licence-and-hire deal, not a purchase: Hume remains independent under new CEO Andrew Ettinger and still sells its voice API.
Acquired by Google.
Last known pricing: Free $0; Starter $3/month; Creator $14/month; Pro $70/month; Scale $200/month; Business $500/month; Enterprise custom (hume.ai/pricing, September 2026).
Is Hume AI shut down?
No — Hume AI is still operating. Its acquisition by Google was announced on January 22, 2026, and the product continues to ship. We list it in the ToolDirectory.AI graveyard's acquired-but-operating section and watch for post-acquisition changes.
Overview
Hume AI: Pioneering Emotional Intelligence in AI Development
Hume AI is a groundbreaking technology platform dedicated to integrating emotional intelligence into artificial intelligence applications. It provides comprehensive tools for analyzing human expressive behavior in various formats, including audio, video, images, or text, making it a versatile solution for a wide range of applications.
Acquisition note (January 2026): Google DeepMind hired Hume AI CEO Alan Cowen and about seven engineers under a licensing agreement announced January 22, 2026, with Google taking a non-exclusive licence to certain Hume technologies. Hume AI was not bought outright; it continues as an independent company under CEO Andrew Ettinger.
Key Features:
- Advanced Emotional Analysis: Hume AI measures numerous dimensions of emotional expression in facial and vocal behavior.
- Diverse Applications: Suitable for any application or study involving human data.
- Ethical AI: Adheres to ethical guidelines ensuring responsible use of AI.
- Scientifically Founded: Built upon rigorous scientific studies of human expressive behavior.
- API Access: Offers Batch and Streaming API for integration into various applications.
Ideal Use Case
Hume AI is ideal for sectors like healthcare, education, and robotics, where understanding human emotions is crucial. Its technology is currently being explored for patient screening, diagnosis, and monitoring in healthcare, and for enhancing customer service with empathy.
Why use Hume AI:
- Emotional Intelligence: Provides deep insights into human emotions through facial and vocal expressions.
- Ethical Framework: Ensures the responsible and beneficial use of AI technology.
- Scientific Approach: Grounded in extensive research and scientific findings.
- Adaptable across Industries: Offers versatile applications in various sectors.
tl;dr:
Hume AI represents a significant advancement in AI technology, focusing on emotional intelligence. It's not just an emotion analysis tool but a comprehensive platform for incorporating emotional awareness into AI applications. Adhering to ethical principles, it's a game-changer for developers and researchers interested in building technology that understands and respects human emotional expression.
FAQ
Who owns Hume AI? Hume AI is still an independent company led by CEO Andrew Ettinger. In January 2026 Google DeepMind licensed some of its technology and hired founder Alan Cowen and about seven engineers.
Q: What is Hume AI? A: Empathetic technology platform for understanding human emotions.
Q: How is Hume AI priced? A: Pricing varies by plan. Visit the Hume AI pricing page for current tiers and details.
Q: What problem does Hume AI solve? A: Hume AI helps clinicians and healthcare ops teams improve diagnosis, automate documentation, and streamline patient workflows.
Q: What are alternatives to Hume AI? A: Top alternatives to Hume AI include Abridge, Flatiron Health, and Exscientia. See our directory for in-depth comparisons.
Related
Looking for more options? Browse the Healthcare directory or read our best AI healthcare tools listicle. Hume AI is also tracked on Crunchbase.
Why Use Hume AI
