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What is Synthesia?

Posted
Updated
ByChris Gaskins

Synthesia is an enterprise-grade AI video communications platform that allows you to create professional videos featuring lifelike AI avatars simply by typing in text.1

Think of it as “PowerPoint for video.”2 Instead of hiring actors, using a camera, or renting a studio, you choose a digital avatar (an “AI twin” of a real person) and a voice, and the platform generates a video of that avatar speaking your script with perfect lip-syncing and natural gestures.3

Key Features

Synthesia has moved beyond simple “talking heads” into a full-scale video production suite:4

  • Expressive AI Avatars (Express-2): These are the core of the platform.5 They don’t just speak; they can nod, raise eyebrows, and use hand gestures that match the tone of your script.6
  • Video Agents (New in 3.0):7 Unlike static videos, these interactive AI agents can talk, listen, and respond to viewers in real-time, making them ideal for personalized training or customer service.8
  • 1-Click Translation & Dubbing: You can instantly translate a video into over 140 languages and accents.9 The AI automatically adjusts the avatar’s lip movements to match the new language perfectly.10
  • AI Video Assistant: You can upload a PDF, a website URL, or a slide deck, and the AI will summarize the content, write a script, and build a full video draft for you in minutes.11
  • Personal & Custom Avatars: Companies can create a digital version of their own CEO or employees, allowing them to “film” dozens of videos without ever stepping back in front of a camera.12

Primary Use Cases

Synthesia is designed for high-volume corporate communication where traditional filming would be too slow or expensive:13

  1. Learning & Development (L&D): Turning boring training manuals or PDFs into engaging video courses.14
  2. Corporate Communications: Sending out personalized CEO updates or internal policy changes in video format rather than long emails.15
  3. Sales & Marketing: Creating personalized video pitches at scale or localized product explainer videos for global markets.16
  4. Customer Support: Building a searchable library of “how-to” videos that can be updated instantly whenever a product feature changes.17

How it Works

  1. Choose an Avatar: Select from over 230 stock avatars or use your own custom one.18
  2. Type Your Script: Enter your text in any of the 140+ supported languages.19
  3. Customize the Scene: Add text overlays, images, screen recordings, or AI-generated B-roll (powered by models like Sora or Veo).20
  4. Generate: The platform renders the video in the cloud. Because it’s “text-based,” updating a video is as simple as editing a word in the script and clicking “Regenerate.”21