Meta Acquires WaveForms AI to Enhance Emotion-Detecting Audio Tech

Meta Platforms has acquired WaveForms AI, a startup specializing in artificial intelligence that detects and replicates emotions in audio, as part of its strategy to enhance AI-driven audio technology. Founded by former OpenAI and Google employees Alexis Conneau and Coralie Lemaitre, WaveForms AI launched in December 2024 and raised $40 million in funding before the acquisition. The founders will join Meta's new AI division, Superintelligence Labs, which has also recently hired notable AI experts like speech AI specialist Johan Schalkwyk from Google. This acquisition complements Meta's previous purchase of Play AI and its broader efforts to develop more human-like, emotionally adaptive voice technologies across its platforms. By integrating WaveForms’ technology, Meta aims to improve voice features in apps such as Messenger and virtual avatars, competing with companies like OpenAI and Google in the emotional intelligence aspect of AI. These moves reflect Meta's commitment to advancing AI capabilities and humanizing interactions within its ecosystem.