1. Generative AI is capable of creating elaborate text and imagery but often generates imperfect results upon closer inspection.
2. Synthesia, an AI startup specializing in video avatars for business users, is releasing an update with more emotion and lifelike movements.
3. Despite challenges related to deepfakes and misinformation, Synthesia has experienced significant growth and raised $90 million in funding.
Generative AI has become popular for creating text and imagery from verbal prompts, but the results are often imperfect upon closer inspection. Synthesia, an AI startup focused on video avatars for business users, is releasing an update with more emotional, better lip tracking, and expressive movements. Unlike other AI players, Synthesia is honing in on creating humanlike video avatars for the business market, specifically training and marketing uses. The company aims to differentiate itself in a crowded AI market by focusing on quality and the needs of enterprise customers.
The new Expressive Avatars are generated with AI models that mimic how humans speak, aiming for a more lifelike experience. CEO Victor Riparbelli acknowledges that there is still room for improvement but is confident in the progress being made. Synthesia’s focus on B2B usage aims to promote safe AI practices and avoid misuse for propaganda or misinformation. The company has taken steps to restrict certain types of content and invest in AI safety technologies.
Despite facing challenges and controversies, Synthesia has continued to grow and was last valued at $1 billion. The company has attracted big-name customers and has seen significant usage of its avatars for creating video presentations in multiple languages. With the new version being released, Synthesia hopes to further increase its user base and solidify its position in the AI market.