Huxe, an audio-first artificial intelligence (AI) application developed by former Google engineers who worked on the NotebookLM project, has successfully raised $4.6 million in funding and is now available to the public on iOS and Android platforms. The startup announced the funding round on Tuesday, with investments from Conviction, Genius Ventures, Figma CEO Dylan Field, and Google Research's Chief Scientist, Jeff Dean.
Raiza Martin, Jason Spielman, and Stephen Hughes, the three developers behind Huxe, departed Google in December 2024. Their new venture builds on their experience with Google's NotebookLM, an AI note-taking and research assistant known for generating summaries and converting documents into AI-hosted podcasts. Huxe launched on an invite-only basis in June before its public release.
Huxe's core functionality provides users with a daily briefing, leveraging AI to synthesize information from their emails and calendar schedules. It also enables users to explore various topics by generating "podcasts" featuring multiple AI hosts. These hosts can engage interactively with users, responding to questions or re-explaining points upon request, a feature reminiscent of NotebookLM's capabilities.
The app further distinguishes itself by allowing users to create "live stations" on specific subjects, such as tech news or sports, which continuously update by drawing information from diverse sources. This feature aims to keep users informed on developing news. Additionally, a personalized interest feed automatically generates audio content tailored to individual user preferences. According to Martin, early user feedback indicates a strong reception among individuals who manage extensive screen-based workflows and seek audio-based alternatives for consuming information.
The AI audio market is experiencing growth, with Huxe entering a landscape that includes other companies leveraging AI for audio content generation. These include startups such as ElevenLabs and Oboe, alongside established players like Pocket FM and Kuku FM in India, as well as initiatives from Google and Meta in the burgeoning field of AI-generated audio and podcasts.
