Akool Enhances AI-Driven Avatars with GenAI Integration for Lifelike Interactions

Akool combines GenAI models with 2D avatars to create lifelike characters

Akool, a startup doing AI-driven avatar content creation, announced enhancements to Akool Streaming Avatars that connect avatars with AI models. Akool has added advanced video generation technology that now seamlessly integrates with large language models (LLMs) to help model builders create dynamic, 2D lifelike avatars. With the ability to upload a photo and provide a voice recording, customers can create a personalized avatar that becomes a natural extension of the LLM, making interactions with the avatar feel more human with a face and voice familiar to the end user. Human interaction is important to consumers -- 82% of U.S. and 74% of non-U.S. consumers say they want more of it. Available now, Akool Streaming Avatars significantly close the gap between AI models and end-users, making AI more accessible, engaging, and human-like, enabling businesses to differentiate their offerings and drive user adoption, the company said. Ultimately, Akool Streaming Avatars make traditionally text-based LLMs human through emotive real-time engagement. "Consumers find static avatars boring, bland and, frankly, ineffective, but Akool Streaming Avatars are dynamic and expressive, creating new levels of engagement and interactivity," said Jiajun Lu, CEO of Akool, in a statement. "From individual content producers to large enterprises, our Streaming Avatars significantly reduce the cost of video creation and are an ideal option for anyone looking for new and efficient ways to use AI to reach global audiences and customers." In a message to GamesBeat, Lu said his inspiration came from a blend of interests and market needs, but he was primarily excited to create digital humans. This advanced innovation empowers businesses to build and deliver advanced, context-aware avatars that provide real-time responses, transforming industries such as: By leveraging Akool's studio-grade video generation technology, customers also gain access to easier integration. Ready-to-use application programming interfaces (APIs) and software development kits (SDKs) allow for quick deployment and the integration of avatars to existing mobile and web applications. Akool also says the avatars have emotional intelligence. Akool Streaming Avatars convey the speaker's emotions naturally, enhancing the authenticity of live interactions and fostering deeper audience engagement. With the lowest latency on the market, end users can have natural and interactive experiences, the company said. And it enables gesture-capable avatars. By delivering intricate details such as facial expressions, body language, and gestures, Akool Streaming Avatars enable the creation of highly realistic and expressive characters, the company said. The company offers two variations of AI Avatars, including streaming avatars. These are designed for real-time interaction, this AI avatar can respond dynamically to inputs, making it suitable for interactive sessions such as live customer support. And it also has talking avatars. They're designed to deliver pre-recorded or scripted messages in a dynamic and engaging way, this tool generates a video of an avatar speaking based on text input or pre-recorded audio. The avatar mimics human-like lip-syncing and facial expressions, making it suitable for marketing videos, e-learning content, personalized messages and social media content. Founded in 2022 and already achieving nearly $40 million in invoiced ARR, the company is a global leader in generative AI-driven technology, transforming the digital content creation landscape. Akool said its solutions have already saved millions in production costs, boosted engagement, and accelerated market reach for leading global brands, such as Qatar Airways, Coca-Cola, and multinational tech companies.

Akool unleashes enhancements to its AI human 3D avatars connected to LLMs - SiliconANGLE

Akool unleashes enhancements to its AI human 3D avatars connected to LLMs Akool Inc., a developer of artificial intelligence-driven lifelike human video avatars using cutting-edge technology, today announced enhancements to its interactive capability that allows developers to connect large language models, helping model builders create dynamic conversational experiences. Founded in 2022, Akool has been at the forefront of creating vivid experiences using lifelike avatars that look and act like humans. This includes showing emotion on their faces, full body movements, and hand and arm motions to convey expression. The company says whole experience is a lot like talking to another person on a Zoom call. The company provides two types of lifelike avatars. Talking avatars are designed to deliver pre-recorded or scripted messages in a dynamic and engaging manner based on text input or pre-recorded audio. The newly updated streaming avatars provide real-time conversational interaction using AI avatars that can respond directly to questions, which are suitable for active sessions such as customer service or guidance. In an interview with SiliconANGLE, Akool founder and Chief Executive Jiajun Lu said consumers found static avatars boring and uncanny. His company focused on bringing "humanity" back to customer service by making them interactive and present making them ideal for video creation and engagement. "A streaming avatar can be created from images or a short video, and together it can be paired with a voice," Lu explained. "It will also do voice clone and mimic the voice of the actual person and then use that to speak back." Under the hood, Akool allows customers to build interactive avatars by uploading documents to customize an LLM based on prompts, should they choose. That can be connected to the company's in-house large language model. Developers can easily swap that out for other LLM offerings of their choosing, including OpenAI, Lu explained, and the avatar will integrate its responses with the model. "We have seen lots of adaptations," Lu said. "The application is pretty wide, so we see companies are using them in customer support, for example, because when you see a person you can interact with it's easier. I think they just get a better experience. And also with AI agents, they want to put a face on that agent." Lu mentioned that aside from customer service, language education was also one of the most commercially successful applications of streaming avatars. People found being able to speak with a lifelike person made it much easier to learn another language. He added that he saw potential for growth in other industries including government and healthcare. Lu explained that the software is extremely versatile and can be integrated into numerous platforms and devices. For example, they include websites, kiosks, smartwatches and mobile apps. Akool's streaming avatars have seen a great deal of commercial success thanks to their low latency, which is a critical factor when dealing with real-time conversation. Humans don't deal well with long response times, especially for a reply. Lu said the company's full-body motion capabilities made it stand out from the competition and added that the company planned to enhance this feature in the future.