Meta is continuing its hiring and acquisition spree to strengthen its new artificial intelligence (AI) division, Superintelligence Labs. The Menlo Park-based tech giant’s latest move is the acquisition of WaveForms, an AI startup focused on audio-based large language models (LLMs).
According to The Information, while the terms of the deal remain undisclosed, WaveForms’ co-founders have reportedly joined Meta. This marks Meta’s second major acquisition in the AI audio space in just a month, following its reported purchase of Play AI.
WaveForms Founded in December 2024
Based in San Francisco, WaveForms was founded in December 2024 by Alexis Conneau, a former Meta and OpenAI researcher, and Coralie Lemaitre, a former Google advertising strategist. Despite being less than a year old, the startup reportedly raised $40 million (roughly Rs 350 crore) earlier this year in a funding round led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.
On its LinkedIn page, WaveForms describes its mission as solving the Speech Turing Test and developing “Emotional General Intelligence.” The Speech Turing Test, a variation of Alan Turing’s original test, measures whether a listener can distinguish between human speech and AI-generated voice. Passing the test means the listener cannot confidently identify which is which, a significant benchmark in voice-based AI development.
Mark Zuckerberg and $META acquired WaveForms AI, a startup that uses artificial intelligence to understand and mimic emotion in audio – The Information pic.twitter.com/2O2oSBN4te
— Evan (@StockMKTNewz) August 7, 2025
WaveForms’ Technology Could Power Meta’s Voice AI Ambitions
As part of the acquisition deal, both Conneau and Lemaitre will join Meta’s Superintelligence Labs. The company is expected to integrate WaveForms’ technology stack into its voice AI projects.
Meta’s focus on acquiring voice AI startups signals its intent to close a noticeable gap in its AI capabilities. The company is reportedly working on adding real-time, two-way voice conversations to its AI chatbot. However, it remains behind rivals OpenAI and Google, which have already introduced natural-sounding voice features in ChatGPT and Gemini, respectively.
Part of a Growing AI Audio Strategy
With WaveForms and Play AI under its belt, Meta appears to be building a strong foundation in the audio AI sector. These acquisitions could help the company accelerate the development of more lifelike and emotionally intelligent voice assistants, potentially reshaping how users interact with AI in the future.
By strengthening its AI audio portfolio, Meta is positioning Superintelligence Labs as a key player in the next wave of conversational AI technology, one where human-like voice interaction may become the norm.
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