Voice AI startup Hume unveils custom voice creation tool

The advent of customizable AI voices has taken a significant step forward with Hume AI‘s launch of Voice Control, a tool that enables users to create unique AI voices by adjusting vocal characteristics without technical expertise.

Product Overview: Voice Control represents an evolution of Hume’s Empathic Voice Interface 2 (EVI 2) platform, focusing on voice customization rather than voice cloning.

• The system allows real-time adjustment of 10 distinct voice dimensions, including masculine/feminine traits, assertiveness, confidence, and enthusiasm
• Users can manipulate virtual sliders to fine-tune voice characteristics instantly
• The tool is accessible through Hume’s virtual playground with free registration

Technical Capabilities and Performance: EVI 2, the foundation of Voice Control, demonstrates significant improvements in both speed and cost-effectiveness.

• The platform has achieved a 40% reduction in latency compared to previous versions
• Operating costs have been reduced by 30% since its September 2024 launch
• The system integrates seamlessly with Hume’s existing Empathic Voice Interface

Research-Based Development: Hume’s approach to voice AI is grounded in extensive research and data collection.

• The company utilizes cross-cultural voice recordings to ensure diverse representation
• Emotional survey data informs the development of voice characteristics
• The focus remains on creating original voices rather than cloning existing ones

User Experience and Accessibility: Voice Control democratizes AI voice creation by removing technical barriers.

• Developers and users can select from a range of base voices as starting points
• The interface allows immediate preview of voice adjustments
• No coding or sound design expertise is required for operation

Future Development Plans: Hume has outlined several key areas for Voice Control’s expansion and improvement.

• Additional modifiable dimensions will be added to increase customization options
• Voice quality refinements are planned for future updates
• The company aims to expand its library of base voices

Strategic Market Position: In an increasingly competitive voice AI landscape, Hume has positioned itself uniquely by emphasizing customization and emotional intelligence, distinguishing its offering from major players like OpenAI and ElevenLabs while addressing the industry’s traditional reliance on preset voices.