Carly Quellman, aka Carly Que, is a multimedia strategist and storyteller at the intersection of technology and the humanities, investigating how perspective can enhance, rather than overstimulate, the world. She can be found online and near the closest south-facing window in Los Angeles.
I'm always looking for ways to streamline my work. I figured that with the abundance of artificial intelligence marketing campaigns flooding my LinkedIn timeline, there could be a tool that helps capture content without the hassle of recording my own face.
I toggled through a couple different choices before ending up on D-ID, an AI-powered platform specializing in transforming still images into lifelike, talking video avatars. I was immediately amazed to learn I wasn't the only person with content creation burnout.
D-ID leverages AI to create video avatars and a design studio that lets you produce professional videos with little technical know-how. The platform is available in over 100 languages, and aims to solve the problem of needing high-quality content creation with little to no budget.
D-ID was launched in 2017 by three co-founders: Gil Perry, Sella Blondheim and Eliran Kuta. It found success in the video generation sector.
The startup has just announced a new partnership with Microsoft, which brings AI-powered avatars to its business tools. This will allow businesses to integrate the AI avatars into their apps for real-time interactions with customers.
Creating a D-ID digital avatar is pretty simple and straightforward, regardless of how you plan to use it.
Once you have your avatar, here's how to create a video content campaign:
If you find something you want to change, pop back in when you need to make a new video -- your older avatars will still be there. This helps to keep a library of your creations on hand.
I find that sharing content across multiple platforms featuring my work can be a lot. The constant need for fresh looks, fits and energy to speak on topics is daunting -- honestly, exhausting -- over time. (If you're a full-time content creator, I respect it.)
D-ID proves I'm not alone in feeling this way. It's a great tool for marketers, educators, small businesses - really anyone who wants customizable features or wants to see how their writing comes to life through a close-to-realistic AI avatar.
In case you're worried about fair use of images, I'm a fan of the company's ethical AI development, which focuses on responsible AI, and the fact that its AI systems emphasize safety, transparency and fairness. Its blog contains many articles related to its stance on AI governance and security.
Honestly, this is an AI tool I see myself using for more than just streamlining processes. I could use it to practice speeches and fine-tune my tone, or even for content creation beyond education and advertising -- like training, video messages for friends and family or fun narration.
However, it's pretty limited without a paid plan -- I could only record a 10-word video, which isn't ideal for creating or sharing meaningful content. Still, what I love most about D-ID is its versatility. A paid plan feels worth it to mitigate problems and spark inspiration
If you have any need to express yourself a little differently, this could be the way to go. And when it comes to safety, there's peace of mind in sharing an avatar version of yourself - without truly putting yourself out there.
