3 ex-Apple researchers want to make AI less awkward. Lightspeed, Accel, and Nvidia are giving them $50 million to do it. (www.businessinsider.com)

Seattle-based startup Nuance has raised $50 million to enhance AI conversational models, aiming to improve emotional intelligence and reduce awkwardness in interactions. Founded by former Apple researchers, Nuance plans to design an integrated system for real-time, face-to-face conversations, eliminating the latency often associated with existing chatbots that typically rely on separate voice-to-text and text-to-voice processes. CEO Fangchang Ma emphasizes that true conversational AI must react naturally, capturing human nuances that current models often miss. This funding, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and supported by Accel and Nvidia, will allow Nuance to expand its eight-person team and focus on developing its technology. The startup seeks to gather unique, in-house audiovisual data for training its models, enabling a more authentic AI interaction experience. Potential applications include AI interviewers and sales reps, with plans to offer a public research preview later this year. This innovation could significantly impact various industries by improving how businesses and customers engage with AI systems, paving the way for more effective communication tools.