Synthesia: The Future of AI Video at Work (CNBC)

Synthesia
3 Jul 202410:07

TLDRSynthesia, a British AI startup backed by Nvidia, has introduced new features allowing users to create AI avatars using webcams and phones. CEO Victor Riparbelli explains how Synthesia's technology addresses the high cost and time of video production, enabling faster and more efficient communication. The company now offers avatar creation nearly for free, with the ability to speak in multiple languages. Riparbelli discusses overcoming technological and cultural barriers, the current market focus on go-to-market strategies, and the ethical considerations of AI-generated content.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 Synthesia is a British AI startup that creates AI avatars using webcams and phones.
  • 📈 The company is backed by Nvidia and aims to target large firms for future growth.
  • 🎥 AI-generated videos are a more efficient and cost-effective way to communicate compared to traditional video production.
  • 💸 The cost of producing an AI avatar has significantly decreased, making it accessible for enterprise use.
  • 🌐 AI avatars can speak in multiple languages, offering a global communication solution.
  • 🚀 Synthesia has overcome early technological barriers and is now focused on market expansion.
  • 💼 The company works with almost 60% of the Fortune 100 companies, indicating strong market penetration.
  • 💰 While Synthesia does not disclose profit margins, it emphasizes building a solid business over just raising funds.
  • 🔮 The future of AI video includes interactive avatars and personalized video content.
  • 🚫 Synthesia has an ethical framework in place to prevent non-consensual use of avatars or content.
  • 🤝 Nvidia's partnership with Synthesia is mutually beneficial, with Nvidia providing AI research expertise.

Q & A

  • What is Synthesia and what does it specialize in?

    -Synthesia is a British AI startup that specializes in creating AI avatars and generating video content using AI, without the need for filming.

  • What new features has Synthesia introduced?

    -Synthesia has introduced new features including the ability to create AI avatars using webcams and phones.

  • Who is Victor Riparbelli and what is his role at Synthesia?

    -Victor Riparbelli is the CEO and co-founder of Synthesia.

  • What is the main challenge enterprises face when producing video content?

    -The main challenge is that producing video content is extremely expensive in terms of both time and money.

  • How does AI help in creating video content as per Victor?

    -AI allows for the creation of video content without filming it, by simply generating it, making the process faster and more efficient.

  • How much does it cost to produce an AI avatar now compared to the past?

    -The cost used to be around $1,000 per avatar, but now it can be done for free or with an enterprise plan from home.

  • What languages can Synthesia's avatars speak?

    -Synthesia's avatars can speak not only the language they were recorded in but also 29 other languages.

  • What are the barriers to growth for Synthesia?

    -The barriers include technological challenges, cultural acceptance of AI videos, and the competitive and financial environment.

  • How does Synthesia ensure ethical use of its technology?

    -Synthesia has an ethical framework that prohibits non-consensual content or avatars and requires consent for creating avatars.

  • What is the future of AI video technology according to Victor?

    -The future includes interactive avatars and personalized videos, opening up an entirely new market beyond traditional video creation and distribution.

  • What is the relationship between Synthesia and Nvidia?

    -Nvidia backs Synthesia and provides valuable expertise in AI research and large model training, which benefits both companies.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 AI Avatars Revolutionize Content Creation

Synthesia, a British AI startup backed by Nvidia, has introduced new features that allow for the creation of AI avatars using webcams and phones. CEO and co-founder Victor Riparbelli explains that the company aims to make video content creation more accessible and efficient for large firms. Traditional video production is costly and time-consuming, but AI can generate videos without filming, addressing the trend of people preferring video over text. The cost of producing an AI avatar has significantly reduced, now nearly free compared to the previous cost of around $1,000 per avatar. These avatars can speak in multiple languages, offering a powerful tool for global communication.

05:02

🚀 Overcoming Barriers in AI Adoption

Victor Riparbelli discusses the evolution of Synthesia, highlighting the initial technological challenges and the cultural shift towards AI acceptance. The company has crossed these barriers and is now focusing on market penetration, working with nearly 60% of the Fortune 100 companies. Riparbelli emphasizes the importance of demonstrating quick business value, which Synthesia can do within half an hour. He also addresses the ethical concerns surrounding deepfakes and the misuse of AI, stating that Synthesia has a strict policy against non-consensual content. The conversation touches on the complexities of AI ethics, including the challenges of consent and模仿声音的法律问题.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI Video

AI Video refers to the use of artificial intelligence to create or enhance video content. In the context of the video, Synthesia uses AI to generate videos without the need for traditional filming. This is exemplified by the company's new feature to create AI avatars using webcams and phones, which is a significant advancement in making video production more accessible and cost-effective.

💡Avatars

Avatars, in this script, are digital representations or likenesses of a person, created using AI. Victor mentions that with Synthesia's technology, one can create an avatar that can speak in multiple languages, which is a game-changer for enterprises looking to communicate globally without the constraints of language barriers.

💡Enterprise

Enterprise refers to large businesses or organizations. The video discusses how producing video content is expensive for enterprises, but AI technology like Synthesia's can make it more efficient. Enterprises are also mentioned as potential clients for Synthesia, indicating a business-to-business (B2B) sales focus.

💡Nvidia

Nvidia is a technology company known for its graphics processing units (GPUs) and AI research. In the script, it's mentioned that Synthesia is backed by Nvidia, which implies a partnership where Nvidia's technological expertise and resources may be supporting Synthesia's AI development.

💡Go-to-market

Go-to-market strategy refers to the process of commercializing a product or service. Victor discusses overcoming technical and cultural barriers and now focusing on the go-to-market exercise, which involves delivering the best product at the right price to the right customers to grow the business.

💡Deepfakes

Deepfakes are synthetic media in which a person's likeness and voice are manipulated to appear as if they said or did something they did not. The script touches on concerns about the misuse of AI for creating non-consensual content, which is a serious ethical and legal issue that companies like Synthesia must address.

💡Ethical framework

An ethical framework provides guidelines for making decisions that are morally correct. Victor mentions that Synthesia has an ethical framework to handle the responsible use of AI, particularly regarding non-consensual use of avatars or content, which is crucial in maintaining trust and avoiding misuse.

💡KYC

KYC stands for 'Know Your Customer,' a process used to verify the identity of a customer. In the context of the video, Victor explains that creating an avatar on Synthesia requires a KYC-style process to ensure that only the individual can create and control their own avatar, adding a layer of security and consent.

💡Monetization

Monetization refers to the process of generating revenue from a product or service. The interview inquires about the barriers to further monetizing Synthesia's product. Victor explains that the technology is evolving to enable new forms of interaction, like personalized videos and conversations with avatars, which could open up new markets and revenue streams.

💡Fortune 100

Fortune 100 refers to the top 100 companies listed in Fortune magazine's annual ranking of the largest American corporations by revenue. Victor mentions that Synthesia works with almost 60% of the Fortune 100, highlighting the company's reach and the adoption of its AI video technology by major enterprises.

💡AI letdown

AI letdown is a term used to describe the disappointment when AI technologies do not fully deliver on their promises. Victor discusses the 'Holy Grail problem' in enterprise AI, where companies face challenges in achieving the ultimate state of AI integration. He suggests that companies that can demonstrate quick business value, like Synthesia, are more likely to succeed against the backdrop of AI letdown.

Highlights

Synthesia introduces new features for creating AI avatars on webcams and phones.

The company is backed by Nvidia and aims to target large firms as clients.

AI avatars address the trend of people preferring video content over text.

Producing traditional video content is expensive, while AI-generated content is more efficient.

AI avatars can be created at home with a phone or webcam and are ready in less than 24 hours.

Avatars can speak in 29 languages and mimic the user's voice.

Synthesia has overcome technological and cultural barriers to AI adoption.

The company works with almost 60% of the Fortune 100 companies.

Synthesia focuses on delivering actual business value quickly to its customers.

The future of AI video includes personalized content and interactive avatars.

The financing environment for AI is more rational, focusing on businesses with good margins.

Synthesia has a solid business model, not just reliant on venture capital funding.

The company faces challenges in educating the market about the value of AI-generated video content.

AI adoption in enterprises is hindered by the 'AI letdown' where products almost meet expectations but not fully.

Synthesia's technology can demonstrate business value within a short time frame.

The ethical use of AI is a concern, with Synthesia implementing a framework to prevent misuse.

Non-consensual use of content or avatars is a red line for Synthesia.

Nvidia's partnership with Synthesia is symbiotic, helping to accelerate AI adoption.