Swiss banking institution UBS is leveraging advanced AI technology to develop video avatars of its analysts for client communication. Utilizing models from OpenAI and Synthesia, UBS has already created virtual representations of approximately 35 out of its 720 analysts, with intentions for further expansion, as reported by the Financial Times.
The process involves analysts visiting a studio where Synthesia captures their appearance and voice. Subsequently, a language model interprets the analysts’ reports, formulates a script, and produces a lifelike AI-generated video. These avatars aim to enhance efficiency and meet the growing demand for quick informational content in the style popularized by platforms like TikTok.
“There are two main factors driving this initiative: client demand and operational efficiency,” explains Scott Solomon, Head of Global Research Technology at UBS. “This approach allows us to scale our video production capabilities to meet client requests while freeing up valuable time for analysts to focus on research and client interactions.”
Participation in this avatar program is voluntary for analysts. While Solomon acknowledges that the technology still has challenges—particularly with certain accents—the bank aims to significantly increase its output, targeting the creation of 5,000 videos annually.
“Currently, we produce around 50,000 documents a year, yet our video output has been limited to roughly 1,000 due to studio constraints. Nonetheless, the viewership for these videos has increased substantially,” Solomon noted in his interview with the Financial Times.