Why More HR Leaders are Experimenting with Video Avatars to Extend their Reach

Have you ever tried to be in two places at once, such as running orientation for a group of new hires while also facilitating a leadership training session? AI video avatars are starting to make that possible. These avatars can deliver consistent, engaging content for onboarding, L&D, and even policy refresh sessions, all while freeing up your time for the conversations that need a human touch. ✨

But before you jump all in, it’s worth asking: what are the trade-offs? Because like any tool, video avatars bring both opportunities and challenges to the HR function.

The Pros of Video Avatars in HR

1. Consistency across the organization
Every new hire hears the same message, delivered the same way, ensuring that no detail gets lost when HR is stretched thin.

2. Scalability and efficiency
Instead of repeating the same presentations multiple times a month, avatars let you record once and reuse, giving HR more bandwidth for strategic work.

3. Accessibility and flexibility
Employees across different time zones and shifts can engage with training content at their convenience, removing scheduling bottlenecks.

4. Engagement through personalization
Avatars can be customized to reflect company culture—warm, approachable, and aligned with your values—so that training feels less like “click-through compliance” and more like a conversation.

The Cons You Need to Watch

1. Risk of losing the human connection
Employees may miss the chance to ask real-time questions or feel like they’re interacting with a “script” instead of a person.

2. Technical and adoption barriers
Setting up avatars requires the right tools, licensing, and sometimes higher-quality prompts. Without proper design, the result can feel robotic or disengaging.

3. Over-reliance on automation
There’s a risk HR teams may lean too much on avatars and lose the personal moments that build trust and belonging. Employees may also feel “processed” rather than welcomed.

4. Ongoing upkeep
Training programs change. Policies get updated. Avatars need regular refreshes, which means ongoing time and effort to keep them relevant.

Why HR Professionals Should Explore This

1. Modernizing the employee experience
Employees expect digital-first, flexible experiences. Avatars help HR meet these expectations while showing the organization is innovative and forward-thinking.

2. Balancing efficiency with empathy
The right blend of avatar-led content and live HR follow-up ensures efficiency without losing the personal touch. For example, an avatar could introduce benefits enrollment, while HR hosts a live Q&A for nuanced questions.

3. Preparing for scale
As companies grow, HR can’t keep multiplying live sessions. Avatars provide the foundation for scaling training programs without scaling team size at the same rate.

Takeaways:

1. Video avatars are a tool to extend HR’s reach, not replace human interaction.

2. Success depends on strong prompts that keep avatars warm, clear, and engaging.

3. HR must balance efficiency with authenticity to keep employees connected.

Ready to test out how prompts can shape your video avatar scripts? Join Paul in The AI Klatch and he will share ideas to help you get started.

📄 Prompt of the Week

Use this prompt to evaluate the use of AI avatars in L&D:

ROLE:
You are an experienced HR technology consultant specializing in learning and development.

REQUEST:
Evaluate the potential use of AI-powered avatars in HR’s learning and development functions, focusing on both opportunities and risks.

GOAL:
Provide insights that will help HR leaders decide if and how AI avatars should be integrated into training, onboarding, or orientation programs. The goal is to identify benefits, limitations, employee acceptance challenges, and practical next steps.

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Analyze the advantages of using AI avatars in HR learning contexts (e.g., scalability, personalization, consistency).

• Summarize the potential drawbacks or risks (e.g., loss of human connection, cost, bias, employee resistance).

• Provide a balanced assessment of when AI avatars might add the most value versus when live facilitation is still preferable.

• Suggest 2–3 creative use cases for avatars in HR training that go beyond obvious applications.

• Recommend a short list of evaluation criteria HR teams can use to decide if avatars are right for their organization.

• Where relevant, include examples of industries or companies that are experimenting with AI avatars in training or development.

OUTPUT FORMAT:

• Executive Summary (short, non-technical overview)

• Pros and Cons list (table format)

• Top Use Cases (bullet points)

• Evaluation Criteria Checklist (clear, actionable items)

• Recommendations (2–3 next steps HR can take to explore further)

DATA FOR ANALYSIS (if available):

• Current L&D goals: [insert here]

• Target employee audience: [insert here]

• Training formats already in use: [insert here]

• Budget or resource constraints: [insert here]

🤩  The Fun Side of AI

Using AI doesn’t have to be all work. Here is a fun way to interact with AI.

Invent a Useless Gadget and Pitch It to AI Shark Tank

ROLE:

You are a creative entrepreneur and a contestant on “AI Shark Tank,” pitching a quirky, useless gadget to a panel of investors.

REQUEST:

Create a detailed pitch for an imaginary gadget that is intentionally impractical or absurd, but presented with enthusiasm and confidence.

GOAL:

To design a playful pitch that uses humor, creativity, and persuasion to make an obviously useless gadget sound like an innovative product worth investing in.

INSTRUCTIONS:

- Gadget Name and Tagline: Create a memorable name and tagline that captures the absurdity of the gadget.

- Target Audience: Identify who this useless product is supposedly “for” [busy professionals, college students, parents, pet owners, gamers].

- Problem Statement: Describe an everyday “problem” (even if exaggerated or made-up) that this gadget pretends to solve.

- Product Features: List the main features of the gadget, making them sound useful even though they are impractical.

- Market Potential: Explain why this gadget is going to disrupt the market, including fake stats or “trends” that support it.

- Pricing Strategy: Suggest a pricing model that makes the pitch seem even more convincing [premium, subscription-based, buy-one-get-five].

- Closing Statement: End with a dramatic and persuasive appeal to the “Sharks” to invest in the gadget.

TONE:

[Playful, Over-the-top, Persuasive, Comedic, Sarcastic]

STYLE:

[Shark Tank Pitch, Marketing Copy, Stand-up Comedy Routine, Sales Brochure, Infomercial Script]

OUTPUT FORMAT:

Present the pitch as if I am speaking directly to the “Sharks.” Use a mix of persuasive narrative and bullet points to highlight features, with bold emphasis on the most absurd elements.