Alan Cowen: Creating Empathic AI with Hume

What if AI could understand what we, humans, are feeling? This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano talks to Alan Cowen, CEO & Chief Scientist of Hume AI. Hume creates empathic AI that learns our preferences from our vocal and facial expressions. Their goal is to maximize our happiness and quality of life. Hume is now announcing their API for EVI, Hume’s Empathic Voice Interface. 

The conversation covers Cowen's journey from being a researcher to founding Hume AI, the importance of emotional intelligence in AI for quality human interaction, and the potential to transform user experiences across various apps and devices. Plus, we ask how empathic AI could impact the road to AGI.

Episode Chapters
(00:00) Introduction to Alan Cowen & Hume Demo 

(01:38) The Genesis of Hume AI: From Research to Startup

(04:01) Affective Computing and Its Impact

(10:55) Hume AI: Bridging Human Emotions and Technology

(15:37) The Future of AI: Beyond Text to Empathic Interactions

(20:37) Introducing EVI: Empathic Voice Interface

(21:46) Real-World Applications of Empathic AI 

(31:19) The Potential Role of Empathic AI in Achieving AGI

(36:53) Trust and Privacy

(40:02) Opportunities with Hume AI

(41:18) Closing Thoughts 

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