How to Create Custom Talking Avatars Using AI

Creating videos with AI avatars is changing how we make content online. Instead of hiring actors or recording yourself, you can now use AI to generate talking characters for your videos. As someone who works with different AI tools, I recently tried Heygen to make my own AI avatar.

AI avatars are digital characters that can speak and move like real people. They can deliver your message in multiple languages, present your content 24/7, and help you make videos quickly without setting up a studio or camera equipment.

For businesses, this means making training videos, product demos, and presentations without coordinating schedules with real presenters. For content creators, it’s a way to produce more videos while saving time and money.

What I like most about AI avatars is their flexibility. Need to update part of your video? Just edit the script and regenerate that section – no need for reshoots. And if you’re camera-shy but still want to connect with your audience, an AI avatar can be your digital spokesperson.

Get Started with Heygen

Heygen is the AI tool I used to create my talking avatar. Heygen is a web-based platform that lets you create AI avatars from photos or videos. You can make talking videos using these avatars without any complex technical skills.

You can start with their free plan, which lets you create one avatar. This is great for testing the platform. If you plan to make lots of videos, they have paid plans with more features. I started with the free version to test it out before deciding on a paid plan.

The basic requirements are:

• Clear photos of the person you want to turn into an avatar
• Your script or content ready to record
• A Heygen account

The first step is to go to app.heygen.com to create your account. After signing up and logging in, you’ll see a clean dashboard with all the tools you need to start making videos.

Step-by-Step Tutorial to Create Avatar

Here’s exactly how I made my first AI avatar in Heygen – I’ll walk you through each step:

• From the sidebar click the Avatars menu

• You’ll see two choices: Video Avatar and Photo Avatar
• Click on Photo Avatar – this is what I used for my first try

• On the next screen, pick Upload (you can also generate images, but I went with Upload)

• You can add up to 10 photos – I only used two photos. I created my first avatar image in Midjourney first. I made the second photo using the first one as a character reference.

• Hit the Upload button when your photos are ready
• On the next screen, fill in your avatar’s information such as name, age, gender, ethnicity, etc.
• Click Submit when done

• Wait a few minutes while Heygen processes your photos
• Once that’s done, click Train Model

• Give it another few minutes to train your avatar
• Look at your generated character images, hover your mouse over the image, and click the three dots menu in the top right corner
• Select Add Motion
• Wait briefly while it creates an animated version.
• Click Create with AI Studio when your animation is ready

• Type in your script

• Hit submit and wait for your video

The whole process took me about 15-20 minutes. Following is the first avatar I created using Heygen.

Remember, this is just the basic version. Heygen can do much more – like creating video avatars from actual video footage and using different backgrounds. But these steps will get you started with your first AI talking avatar.

Benefits of AI Avatars

Making videos with AI avatars has made my content creation much easier, and here’s why I think they’re worth trying:

Save Time and Money

No more booking studios, hiring actors, or spending hours getting the perfect shot. You can make professional-looking videos right from your computer. When I need to create training content or presentations, I can do it in minutes instead of days.

Easy Updates and Fixes

Made a mistake in your script? Want to change something last minute? Just edit the text and regenerate that part of the video. This has saved me countless times when I’ve spotted errors after recording traditional videos.

Always Available

Your avatar never gets tired, sick, or needs a day off. You can create consistent content whenever you need it. This helps a lot when I’m working on big projects that need many videos.

No Camera Anxiety

Not everyone feels comfortable in front of a camera. AI avatars let you share your message without showing your face. This has been especially helpful for team members who have great ideas but prefer staying behind the scenes.

Brand Consistency

Your avatar will always look and sound the same, keeping your brand image consistent across all videos. There’s no worry about different presenters changing your message’s tone or style.

After using Heygen, I can say AI avatars are going to make video content creation much simpler. No more struggling with lighting, multiple takes, or scheduling issues. Just write a script, pick an avatar, and hit generate.

Is it perfect? Not yet. Sometimes the movements can look a bit stiff, and you might need to tweak the script a few times to get the right flow. But for most business videos, training content, and online presentations, it works great.

Try the free version first. Make a simple video. See how it works for your needs. That’s the best way to decide if it’s right for you.

I still use real videos when I want that personal touch. It’s not about replacing human videos – it’s about having another useful tool in your content creation toolkit.