Synthesia.io 2.0 Review: AI Upgraded. But Is It Worth It?

The Shift To Video

In the last decade, video has become the dominant form of communication online. Today, video makes up over 82% of all Internet traffic. People spend billions of hours daily on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Netflix. Despite this, many businesses still rely heavily on text for communication.

Using video can enhance engagement and information retention. Companies like Heineken, Zoom, and Xerox have reported increased engagement and better communication with their employees and customers by using video. However, the trend for faceless YouTube channels is currently facing resistance, as there is more demand for genuine human interaction. Not every user appreciates AI avatars, which can sometimes feel impersonal.

Although Synthesia.io 2.0 offers a streamlined process for video creation, it's worth questioning whether it suitable for every use case (spoiler: it's not). The future of AI avatars might see significant improvements, making them a cheaper alternative to hiring spokespersons from platforms like Fiverr or Upwork. But for now, they might not be the best fit for all audiences or purposes.

How To Create Video With Synthesia 2.0

Creating a video with Synthesia 2.0 is straightforward, but let's break it down step-by-step.

• Choosing Templates: First, you select a template from the library. There are plenty of options tailored for different needs—corporate presentations, educational videos, marketing content, etc.

• Uploading Documents: Next, you upload the content you want to transform into a video. This could be a PDF, Word document, or even a simple text file. If you have an existing webpage or blog post, you can input the link directly.

• Setting Parameters: Now, set your video parameters. You can choose the length of your video, the tone of the voice, and the target audience. This is crucial for aligning the video with your brand's voice.

• Generating the Video: After all the settings are configured, you hit the generate button. Synthesia 2.0 takes over from here, producing a draft video based on the inputs.

My Experience Using Synthesia 2.0 AI Video Assistant and Avatars

Using Synthesia's AI assistant was surprisingly smooth. The interface is user-friendly, even for those not well-versed in video editing. However, some hiccups were inevitable. For instance, despite specifying a short video, the AI generated more scenes than needed, requiring manual adjustments. This added a layer of complexity, but if you can navigate PowerPoint, you can handle Synthesia 2.0.

Ease of Use: The drag-and-drop interface and intuitive design make it accessible.

Time Taken: Generating a video took about 15 minutes, which is pretty good.

Initial Impressions: The AI avatars are impressive but not flawless. The slight disconnect between the avatar's mouth movements and the script can be distracting. So even though the tool is useful, it still has room for improvement.

AI Avatars: Impressive or Creepy?

The AI avatars in Synthesia 2.0 are both a highlight and a point of contention. They are designed to be realistic, with expressive capabilities that adapt to the script's context. However, they often fall into the uncanny valley—appearing almost human, but not quite. This can be unsettling for some viewers.

Where To Use Synthesia 2.0?

Expressive AI avatars are great for:

• Corporate Training: Delivering consistent training modules without needing a live presenter. Heineken's continuous improvement team uses it for training, appreciating the quick turnaround and multilingual support.

• Marketing: Creating engaging promotional content quickly.

• Education: Providing interactive lessons that can be easily updated.

• Customer Support: Companies transform help articles into video tutorials, enhancing user experience.

• Sales Enablement: Zoom uses Synthesia 2.0 to onboard sales reps efficiently.

Synthesia 2.0 has received mixed reviews. Some users appreciated the innovation, while others found the avatars' expressions and lip-syncing off-putting. A common issue was the lack of authentic human connection, which is critical for engagement.

Positives: Time efficiency, cost-saving, consistent output, ease of use, useful for repetitive content.

Negatives: Lack of realism, the potential for distracting viewers, the need for manual adjustments, not suitable for all audiences.

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Trend Resistance

Despite its potential, AI content, including avatars, faces resistance. Not every creator can implement this technology in their projects. There's a growing trend against faceless YouTube channels, and many users prefer real human interaction. Until AI avatars become indistinguishably realistic and more cost-effective than hiring real spokespersons, this resistance will likely persist.

However, with further updates, AI avatars might dominate if they significantly improve in quality and affordability. Until then, Synthesia 2.0 remains a promising tool with certain limitations that need addressing.

Synthesia 2.0 Price

A professional spokesperson charges around $250 for a 10-minute video. Here's how Synthesia compares:

Free Plan: Suitable for exploring AI videos but limited to 3 video minutes per month with Synthesia branding and limited lower-quality avatars.

Starter Plan: Costs $29/month (or $264/year), offering 10 video minutes per month and 70+ AI avatars.

Creator Plan: Priced at $89/month (or $804/year), providing 30 video minutes per month, premium voices, and additional customization options.

Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing with unlimited video minutes and advanced features like voice cloning and shared workspace.

Synthesia offers about 1 minute of video for $3, whereas freelancers on Fiverr charge between $15-$30 per minute of video for similar services. Considering the costs, the Creator Plan provides better value if you create videos frequently, offering more minutes and customization.

Upcoming Synthesia 2.0 Features

Synthesia has announced several updates and features:

• Improved Avatar Creation: Enhanced realism and ease of creating personal avatars.

• Voice Cloning: Clone voices in over 30 languages, adding a personal touch.

• Interactive Capabilities: New video player features like clickable hotspots, embedded forms, quizzes, and personalized call-to-actions.

Long-Term Benefits

For businesses adopting Synthesia, the potential long-term benefits include:

• Cost and Time Savings: Significantly reduces the cost and time compared to traditional video production.

• Improved Engagement: Video content tends to have higher engagement and retention rates.

• Global Reach: Automatic translations enable you to reach a global audience, especially with personal avatars.

While there are cheaper alternatives like Wondershare Vidro for lower-cost lip-sync videos, Synthesia's precise translation feature might be useful for engaging a much wider audience.

Is Synthesia 2.0 Worth It?

Synthesia 2.0 is a good tool for people looking to integrate video into their communication strategies. It has some limitations, especially in avatar realism, but future improvements could address these issues. The platform is good for creators needing to create consistent and affordable multilingual video content.