Back in October 2023, I spent about half an hour creating my AI avatar in HeyGen. I had to train it by recording myself speaking directly to camera for a few minutes. Careful pauses between every sentence. Mouth closed. Perfect stillness.
I did this a few times until I was happy with my training video. And then I waited for processing and crossed my fingers that I'd have something usable.
I used that avatar to open digitalNow 2023 as the MC. At the time, it felt cutting-edge—my digital double welcoming me to the stage in front of hundreds of attendees. Looking back? The quality was pretty average. Flat delivery, minimal expression changes beyond basic mouth movements. Revolutionary for its time, but clearly AI.
Fast forward to June 2025: I uploaded my LinkedIn headshot to HeyGen and within minutes had an AI version of myself gesturing naturally while delivering a joke. The quality leap in less than two years? Staggering.
HeyGen Avatar IV transforms avatar creation. Forget training videos, perfect lighting, or specific camera angles. One photo—even that corporate headshot from three years ago—can become a dynamic presenter.
My October 2023 avatar required precise conditions: face the camera directly, speak slowly, maintain neutral expression between sentences. The process felt like teaching a robot to impersonate you through slow repetition.
Avatar IV throws out that rulebook. Profile shots work. Tilted heads are fine. That candid photo from your last conference? Perfect. The AI extracts what it needs to create a believable digital double that moves and speaks naturally.
The creation process is easier and it produces better results. The technology now supports everything from photorealistic human clones to stylized characters, anime versions, even animal avatars. Portrait, half-body, or full-body images all work seamlessly.
What sets Avatar IV apart isn't just the visual quality—it's the performance. For the first time, we have AI avatars with synchronized hand gestures that actually enhance communication.
Watch any Avatar IV creation and you'll notice:
The AI doesn't just match lip movements to audio. It interprets your script's meaning and performs it. When discussing something serious, the avatar's expression shifts appropriately. Share exciting news, and the enthusiasm shows in both face and gesture. This emotional intelligence transforms avatars from talking heads to engaging presenters.
^^ October 2023 AI Avatar ^^
^^ June 2025 AI Avatar ^^
Nothing prepares you for seeing yourself as an AI avatar. It's the ultimate quality test—you know every expression, every mannerism, every subtle movement of your own face. If the technology can convince you, it can convince anyone.
For the 2025 demo, I combined two cutting-edge tools. First, I used ElevenLabs V3 to generate the audio. I'd previously trained it on my voice, then used V3's emotion tags to add personality to the script. That audio file went straight into HeyGen, where my LinkedIn photo came to life.
Is it perfect? No. Is it dramatically better than my October 2023 attempt? Absolutely! The gestures feel natural, the expression matches the casual tone, and that coffee joke lands with appropriate timing. Slightly unsettling to see yourself? Sure. But that discomfort reveals just how far the technology has advanced.
The technical process couldn't be more straightforward:
The entire process takes a few minutes. All you need is a photo and a message.
With great avatar power comes great responsibility. The ability to create convincing digital doubles raises important ethical considerations associations must address.
Transparency is non-negotiable. Every use of an AI avatar should be clearly disclosed. In Sidecar's AI Learning Hub, our AI instructors introduce themselves as AI in the first moments of each course. No deception, no ambiguity.
Permission matters. Creating an avatar of yourself? Your choice. Creating avatars of others? Only with explicit consent and full understanding of how the avatar will be used.
Consider stylized alternatives. Not every use case requires photorealistic humans. Sometimes, slightly stylized avatars that are clearly AI can be even more effective—they avoid the uncanny valley while still providing engaging presentation.
Build trust through honesty. People appreciate transparency. When you're upfront about using AI avatars and explain why—consistency, scalability, rapid updates—most understand and appreciate the innovation.
The goal isn't to deceive but to extend reach and capabilities while maintaining authentic connection where it matters most.
Educational Content at Scale
We're using HeyGen avatars combined with ElevenLabs audio for our asynchronous courses in the AI Learning Hub. Our AI instructors maintain consistent energy across courses and can be updated within hours when new developments emerge. No scheduling conflicts, no energy drops, just reliable educational delivery that scales.
Scalable Welcome Messages
Your CEO can personally welcome every new member in their preferred language. Update the message for different membership tiers, events, or campaigns without scheduling studio time.
Event Previews and Recaps
Speakers can introduce their sessions before events, building excitement and attendance. Post-event, create recap videos featuring "appearances" by multiple presenters, even if they're scattered globally.
Accessibility Enhancement
Develop visual demonstrations for complex processes. Create avatars that speak slowly and clearly for members with hearing difficulties. Ensure every member can access your content in the format that serves them best.
Rapid Response Communications
When news breaks or crises emerge, leadership can address members immediately. No waiting for schedules to align or studios to open. Consistent, calm messaging when it matters most.
October 2023's half hour training session feels like ancient history. Today's one-photo reality is just the beginning. The associations experimenting with avatar technology now—building workflows, testing use cases, gathering feedback—position themselves to leverage every improvement as it emerges.
Your entry point couldn't be simpler: One photo. One script. One test case.
Maybe it's a welcome message. Maybe it's a quick explainer. Maybe it's a fun video to share on social media. The technology will improve, and your workflows will evolve. But the experience you gain today compounds with every iteration.
So take that headshot. Write that script. Create that avatar. Scalable, personalized communication is already here. It starts with a single photo.