The idea
Talking head avatars are everywhere, but most only read a fixed script. I wanted to see how close I could get to one that holds a real conversation.
A face and voice that answers in character, grounded in a specific body of knowledge, not generic chatter.
The approach
I defined the use case and requirements first. Who the avatar represents, what it should know, and where the line sits between an on brand answer and making things up.
Then I built it on HeyGen for the avatar and voice, wired to a custom knowledge base so its responses stay grounded in the source material instead of drifting.
The interesting work was the product decisions around it. Scoping the persona, shaping the knowledge, and tuning the experience so the conversation feels natural.
The result
A working, interactive avatar that responds in conversation, shown in the demo. A proof of concept for grounded conversational personas.
Useful as a brand spokesperson, an onboarding guide, or an always available front desk, and a hands on way for me to learn what these systems can and cannot do today.