Hume AI
The world's most realistic and expressive voice AI with emotional intelligence
Founded
2021
Starting Price
$0
Category
AI Chatbots & Agents
Last updated February 10, 2026
About Hume AI
Hume AI builds emotionally intelligent voice AI powered by scientific research on human expression. Its flagship products — Octave for text-to-speech and EVI (Empathic Voice Interface) for real-time voice conversations — understand and respond to emotional nuances in speech, making AI interactions feel genuinely human.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Emotionally intelligent voice AI that understands and responds to tonal nuances — not just words
- Ultra-fast Octave 2 TTS generates audio in under 200ms, suitable for real-time applications
- Voice cloning from just seconds of audio with consistent identity across 100+ languages
- Generous free tier with 10K characters and 5 EVI minutes for prototyping
- Comprehensive developer SDKs for Python, TypeScript, Swift, React, and .NET
Key Features
Empathic Voice Interface (EVI)
Real-time speech-to-speech AI that detects vocal emotions and responds with contextually appropriate tone and expression
Octave Text-to-Speech
Ultra-realistic TTS engine generating expressive audio in under 200ms with native pronunciation across 100+ languages
Voice Cloning
Create natural-sounding voice clones from just a few seconds of audio, maintaining consistent identity across languages
Expression Measurement API
Suite of models analyzing emotion from face, voice, and text — detecting nuanced states beyond basic sentiment
Multilingual Support
Same voice speaks English, Mandarin, Spanish, and more with native-level pronunciation across 100+ languages
LLM Integration
Works seamlessly with Claude, GPT, Gemini, Llama, and other foundation models as an expressive voice layer
Developer SDKs
Robust APIs and SDKs for Python, TypeScript, Swift, React, and .NET for broad platform integration
Pricing
Free
$0
- 10,000 TTS characters (~10 min)
- 5 minutes EVI usage
- 15 RPM, 1 concurrent connection
- Voice cloning (create only)
- Personal use only
Best For
Conversational AI Agents
Build voice-based AI assistants that detect caller emotions and respond with empathy for customer service, support, and sales
Audiobook & Podcast Production
Generate expressive, natural-sounding narration with emotional range from text using Octave TTS and voice cloning
Healthcare & Teletherapy
Analyze patient vocal patterns to detect emotional states, supporting mental health assessments and therapeutic interactions
Market Research & UX Testing
Measure genuine emotional reactions to products, ads, or content through facial and vocal expression analysis
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Featured In
#2
7 Best AI Voice Agents for Automated Phone Calls (2026)
Best for businesses that prioritize natural, emotionally aware conversations — ideal when caller experience directly impacts revenue or retention.
#2
Hume AI vs ElevenLabs: Which Voice AI Platform Wins in 2026?
The right choice for teams building real-time voice agents, companions, or therapy tools where emotional intelligence is the feature — not a nice-to-have.
