Hume AI is pioneering the development of artificial intelligence that understands and responds to human emotions.
Our Vision
We envision a future where AI enhances human connection rather than replacing it—where technology understands not just what we say, but how we feel.
Today's AI systems are remarkably capable at processing language and generating content, but they remain fundamentally disconnected from the emotional dimension of human experience.
We're changing that. By combining cutting-edge machine learning with decades of scientific research on human expression, we're creating AI that can perceive, understand, and respond to the full spectrum of human emotion.
Our Values
Beneficence
AI should be deployed only if its benefits substantially outweigh its costs.
Empathy
AI privy to cues of our emotions should serve our emotional well-being.
Scientific Legitimacy
Applications of AI should be supported by collaborative, rigorous, inclusive science.
Emotional Primacy
AI should be prevented from treating human emotion as a means to an end.
Inclusivity
The benefits of AI should be shared by people from diverse backgrounds.
Transparency
People affected by AI should have enough data to make decisions about its use.
Consent
AI should be deployed only with the informed consent of the people whom it affects.
Our Academic Origins
A history of emotion science
We're continuing the legacy of emotion science and bringing it into the next era with AI.
Hume argues that emotions drive choice and well-being
At Hume AI, we take this as a guiding principle behind ethical AI: in order to serve our preferences, algorithms should be guided by our emotions.
Recognizing the need to map out the emotions that animate thought and action, Hume also proposed a taxonomy of over 16 emotional states, but lacked scientific evidence.
Darwin surveys human emotion
Charles Darwin described similarities and differences in over 20 facial, bodily, and vocal expressions across species, cultures, and stages of life. The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals was his third major work.
He lacked statistical methods to test his hypotheses about human emotion. But 150 years later, studies are confirming many of Darwin's observations.
Ekman documents six facial expressions
Paul Ekman traveled the world to find that six expressions are universally recognized. By focusing on a narrow set of behaviors, Ekman was able to use the statistical methods available to him to confirm some of Darwin's ideas.
However, the focus on just six emotions also introduced what we call the 30% problem: the focus of scientists for 50 years on only 30% of the full range of emotions people experience.
Scientists try to reduce human emotion
While many scientists focus on six emotions, others attempt to derive taxonomy of emotion from data. However, due to statistical limitations, these results lead to even more reductive theories of emotion.
Some scientists endorse "core affect": the notion that emotions are largely captured by how pleasant or unpleasant and calm or aroused an experience or expression seems.
The full spectrum of emotion
Hume's scientists are revolutionizing emotion study through data-driven methods, employing computational techniques, and analyzing vast datasets to understand the spectrum of human emotions.
They've gathered millions of reactions across videos, music, and art, studied brain mechanisms of emotion, explored ancient sculptures' expressions, and applied deep learning to global video expressions. Their research uncovers over 30 emotion dimensions.
Hume argues that emotions drive choice and well-being
At Hume AI, we take this as a guiding principle behind ethical AI: in order to serve our preferences, algorithms should be guided by our emotions.
Recognizing the need to map out the emotions that animate thought and action, Hume also proposed a taxonomy of over 16 emotional states, but lacked scientific evidence.
Darwin surveys human emotion
Charles Darwin described similarities and differences in over 20 facial, bodily, and vocal expressions across species, cultures, and stages of life. The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals was his third major work.
He lacked statistical methods to test his hypotheses about human emotion. But 150 years later, studies are confirming many of Darwin's observations.
Ekman documents six facial expressions
Paul Ekman traveled the world to find that six expressions are universally recognized. By focusing on a narrow set of behaviors, Ekman was able to use the statistical methods available to him to confirm some of Darwin's ideas.
However, the focus on just six emotions also introduced what we call the 30% problem: the focus of scientists for 50 years on only 30% of the full range of emotions people experience.
Scientists try to reduce human emotion
While many scientists focus on six emotions, others attempt to derive taxonomy of emotion from data. However, due to statistical limitations, these results lead to even more reductive theories of emotion.
Some scientists endorse "core affect": the notion that emotions are largely captured by how pleasant or unpleasant and calm or aroused an experience or expression seems.
The full spectrum of emotion
Hume's scientists are revolutionizing emotion study through data-driven methods, employing computational techniques, and analyzing vast datasets to understand the spectrum of human emotions.
They've gathered millions of reactions across videos, music, and art, studied brain mechanisms of emotion, explored ancient sculptures' expressions, and applied deep learning to global video expressions. Their research uncovers over 30 emotion dimensions.
Join our mission
We're always looking for talented people who share our vision of building AI that truly understands humanity.