WaveForms AI Raises $40M to Build Empathetic Audio AI

A new frontier in AI interaction is emerging with WaveForms AI, a startup led by former OpenAI researcher Alexis Conneau. The company has raised $40 million in funding, backed by venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz, and is now valued at $200 million. Its mission: to create artificial intelligence capable of emotionally connecting with users through voice.

WaveForms AI: Pioneering Empathetic AI

Alexis Conneau, CEO of WaveForms AI, is no stranger to innovation. While at OpenAI, Conneau co-developed the groundbreaking voice mode capability on GPT-4o. The model set a new standard for AI voice assistants by enabling real-time responses with no noticeable delay and managing interruptions seamlessly—features that brought AI conversations closer to natural human interaction.

Now, Conneau is focusing on advancing these capabilities further at WaveForms AI. Alongside co-founder Coralie Lemaitre, the startup plans to use its funding to train new audio AI models that make voice conversations with AI bots feel indistinguishable from human interactions.

“Audio conveys emotions and provides emotional responses back to users,” Conneau explained. It’s the key to making AI interactions feel "deeply human.”

Addressing the Emotional Gap in AI

Unlike many AI companies aiming to push superintelligence, WaveForms AI is prioritizing the quality of human-computer interaction. Conneau envisions AI systems that can understand and respond to users with genuine emotional resonance, creating more immersive and enjoyable experiences.

He also emphasized the transformative potential of audio in AI:

“The idea is to create new, more immersive experiences with AI, ones that feel more enjoyable,” he said.

From Controversy to Innovation

Conneau’s work on GPT-4o gained widespread attention earlier this year, not only for its technical achievements but also for the controversy surrounding its release. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s cryptic post of the word "her" on social media drew comparisons to the 2013 film Her, in which a man falls in love with his AI assistant.

Further fueling the discussion, actress Scarlett Johansson accused OpenAI of using her voice as a basis for GPT-4o’s AI assistant. OpenAI denied the claim, stating that the voice used in the model was sourced from a different actress.

What’s Next for WaveForms AI? 

While Conneau declined to share specifics about WaveForms AI’s upcoming products, he confirmed the company is working on consumer software designed to prioritize emotional connection. The goal is to redefine how users experience AI by making interactions feel more personal and meaningful.

What This Means

WaveForms AI is setting its sights on a significant yet underexplored aspect of AI: emotional intelligence through audio. By focusing on voice-based AI models that can connect emotionally, the startup is carving out a niche that could revolutionize human-computer interaction.

This direction aligns with a broader shift toward making AI more relatable and user-centric, as opposed to solely pursuing raw computational power or superintelligence. With its innovative approach and substantial funding, WaveForms AI could set a new benchmark for empathetic AI in the years to come.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.