Why speak on Zoom when your avatar can do it better?
Matt V
May 30, 2025
AI TECH
Palo Alto startup Akool is building a real-time AI camera that lets you show up to video calls as a hyper-realistic avatar.
It can translate your speech live, sync your lips to another language, and even swap your face mid-meeting, all with barely any delay.
Called Akool Live Camera, it’s part of the Akool Live Suite, a bundle of tools made for live settings like meetings, streams, and virtual events.
You can appear as anything from a business avatar to an anime character, no green screen needed. It works with Zoom, Teams, Meet and more.
CEO Jeff Lu says the aim is to make avatars look and behave like real people, mirroring your tone, expressions, and gestures instantly.
It doesn’t rely on scripts or post-production. Instead, the camera uses edge computing to react to everything in real time, from your mood to your audience.
What it offers:
Real-time expression and gesture tracking with AI avatars.
Change your identity mid-call without losing natural movements with their live face swap.
Speak in one language, look and sound like you're speaking another with video translation.
No scripts or editing—just instant, reactive video using live video generation.
Your avatar’s got this
Unlike scripted tools like OpenAI’s Sora, Akool focuses on unscripted moments.
The tech is already being tested by brands like Coca-Cola and Qatar Airways, with a full launch expected in late 2025.
Early access is open at akool.com/live-camera.
Founded in 2022, Akool has grown fast without big funding rounds. Its team includes engineers from Apple and Google, and the tech is built entirely in-house.
They’ve also added safety features like watermarks and moderation to keep AI content transparent and secure.
We’re one step away from sending our avatars to meetings while we nap. CAN’T WAIT.