Building Real AI Humans: The Future is NOW

The Future of Human Computing: Emotionally Intelligent AI and Tavus Pals

In this conversation, Quinn Favret and Hassaan Raza, co-founders of Tavus, share their vision for “human computing”—a shift toward interfaces where machines adapt to people, not the other way around. The discussion starts with a tour of their San Francisco office and how its vintage computing culture reinforces an innovation-first mindset.

The episode digs into what makes communication feel human, from turn-taking and timing to tone and body language. Quinn and Hassaan explain how Tavus approaches real-time perception, understanding, reaction, and action to build AI that can participate in conversations more naturally.

They also introduce Tavus Pals, a category of proactive AI companions designed to reach out to you, and explore practical impact, accessibility, and ethical considerations. The conversation closes with a longer-term view of AI coworkers, the “invisible interface,” and what it takes to build a culturally diverse team.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why “human computing” is the next phase of human-computer interaction
• How workspace design and vintage computing culture can shape innovation
• The evolution of interfaces (CLI to GUI to more natural interaction)
• Communication fundamentals: turn-taking, timing, tone, facial expressions, and body language
• Tavus technology pillars: perception, understanding, reaction, and action
• Tavus Pals: proactive AI companions that initiate conversations
• Real-world impact and accessibility, including the AI Santa story
• Ethical AI, human-first product design, and responsibility
• The future workplace: AI coworkers and the invisible interface (10–20 year view)
• Job displacement, automation concerns, and how teams can adapt
• Building and hiring for an international, culturally diverse team

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 — Introduction & office tour
2:15 — Building an inspiring workspace for innovation
5:45 — The evolution of human-computer interaction (CLI → GUI → human computing)
8:30 — What “human computing” means and why it matters
12:00 — The “waltz” of communication: turn-taking, tone, and body language
15:20 — Tavus technology: perception, understanding, reaction, and action
20:45 — Introducing Tavus Pals: AI companions that reach out to you
25:30 — Real-world impact: the AI Santa story & accessibility
30:15 — Ethical AI: human-first design & responsibility
35:00 — The future of work: invisible interface & AI coworkers (10–20 year vision)
42:30 — Addressing job displacement & automation
47:00 — Building an international, culturally diverse team
52:15 — What makes a great Tavus hire: passion, craft, and opinions
57:45 — Employee challenges that changed company direction
62:00 — Personal motivations: “Why do you do this?”
67:30 — Closing remarks & gratitude

About the Guest:

Quinn Favret and Hassaan Raza are the co-founders of Tavus. In this episode, they discuss their approach to building human-centered AI, including the role of emotional intelligence in conversational systems and the organizational principles they use to build a diverse, high-craft team.

About the Company:

Tavus is building AI systems focused on human-computer interaction through real-time perception and emotionally aware conversation. The company’s work includes Tavus Pals, described in the episode as proactive AI companions designed to engage users in more natural, human-style communication.