AI Avatars vs. Traditional Videos: Which Best Suits Your Needs?

In today’s digital world, video content is more important than ever. Attention spans are shrinking, and the demand for more visual content is growing. 

Many teams are looking for a more efficient way to develop video content, and AI video tools are an up-and-coming solution that can help you create more content faster and more cost effectively. 

In this blog, we’ll break down the key differences between AI avatar videos and traditional videos, comparing the costs, customization capabilities, and more. 

By the end of this article, you’ll have a better sense of which type of video is best suited for your goals. 

What are AI avatars? 

AI avatars are computer-generated digital representations of a person, designed to represent humans in video content. They use advanced artificial intelligence technology to mimic human expressions, movements, and voices. 

These AI avatars allow you to create videos without needing a human actor, camera crew, or production team. Instead, you input a script and select a talking avatar, and from there you can customize your avatar’s appearance or voice to fit your message or audience. 

Main use cases for AI avatar videos 

Because AI avatars are so customizable, the potential use cases are limitless. That said, AI avatar videos are especially prevalent in many instructional contexts. 

Here are some main ways these digital avatar videos are already being used: 

Training and eLearning content

AI avatar videos can deliver educational materials consistently and in multiple languages, making them ideal for global teams. Plus, you can easily update your training content without having to refilm anything. 

Corporate communications

AI avatars help companies create personalized video updates, internal announcements, or introduce new company processes, all at scale.

Related: A Complete Guide to Using Videos in Corporate Communications

Customer support

AI avatar videos can be used to help customers resolve issues on their own, providing a human-like experience without requiring additional staff.

Also read: The Top 5 Benefits of Using AI Avatars in Your Video Content

What are traditional videos? 

Traditional videos involve live recordings of people and real-world settings, typically shot with a camera crew, actors, and complete with professional editing, lighting and sound design. In other words, these are the types of videos you’re likely most familiar with. 

Manually creating these videos can give your content a human-centered approach that’s helpful with storytelling and building emotional connections with your audience. However, scripting, recording, and editing your videos manually can take a lot of time. 

Main use cases for traditional videos 

Some contexts are slightly better suited for traditional videos over AI videos. Let’s take a look at when manual video creation might be best. 

Marketing promotions

Traditional videos are often used in campaigns where emotional storytelling is key to connecting with viewers. Ads and customer testimonials are common examples. 

Event-based content

When creating content about a particular event, using real-life footage from the event is one of the best ways to make your viewers feel like they were there. 

Brand storytelling

When companies want to highlight their culture, values, or community initiatives, traditional videos help tell these stories in a genuine way.

Key differences of AI videos vs. traditional videos 

When determining whether to create an AI video or a traditional video, there are a couple of differences you’ll want to keep in mind. 

Here’s an overview of the key differences between these two types of videos: 

Cost 

One of the most significant differences between AI avatar videos and traditional videos is the cost. Traditional video production can be expensive, especially when it involves hiring actors, camera crews, locations, and editors. On top of that, travel, equipment, and post-production expenses can quickly add up.

AI avatars, by contrast, are far more affordable. Since the avatars are generated through software, there’s no need for expensive crews or equipment. This means AI avatars can offer significant savings for companies with tight budgets or those looking to produce videos in bulk. 

Time 

Time is another key factor when deciding between AI avatar videos and traditional videos. Traditional video production takes time – from pre-production planning and filming to post-production editing. Each stage can require weeks or even months of work, especially if you’re producing content at a high level of quality.

On the other hand, AI avatar videos only take a few minutes to create. Once you’ve written a script, an AI avatar generator will produce the avatar video for you. 

This speed and efficiency make AI avatars perfect for companies that need to produce video content quickly, plus, you won’t have to manually update your materials as the content evolves. 

Personalization 

Personalization is where AI avatar videos shine. You can select an AI avatar that reflects the diversity of your audience, and change the avatar’s language or accent for added personalization. 

For example, if you’re producing training materials for a global workforce, you can create localized versions with avatars that speak different languages or represent the different demographics of employees in each office. 

While traditional videos can also be personalized, doing so is more challenging and expensive. For instance, you’ll need to reshoot scenes, hire actors with your desired characteristics, or record multiple language versions to make your videos feel personalized – all of which require time and additional costs.

Engagement 

When it comes to creating engaging videos, both traditional videos and AI avatar videos offer unique strengths. 

On one hand, using real-life actors in your traditional videos can make your content feel authentic and genuine, thanks to your actors’ natural expressions, body language, and tone of voice. 

On the other hand, AI avatar videos offer greater opportunities for engagement with tech-savvy audiences. AI avatars can be interactive, delivering personalized content, responding to user input, or providing a more dynamic, real-time experience.

How to decide which video format is right for you 

Ultimately, the right video format for your team entirely depends on your specific needs, goals, and budget. 

That said, the following factors could determine which video format is best suited for your needs. 

When to use AI avatar videos 

AI avatars are best for teams looking to scale their content production without incurring a significant increase in cost or time requirements. 

Here are some factors to consider:

1. Cost effectiveness is a priority 

AI avatars are the clear winner when it comes to cost efficiency. If your goal is to produce multiple videos on a limited budget, AI avatars provide a scalable option.

2. You need a quick turnaround

For content that needs to be produced quickly or frequently – like training videos, updates, or product demos – AI avatars offer a speed advantage over traditional video production.

3. You want to localize content for multiple audiences

If you’re targeting different audience segments or languages, AI avatar videos make it easy to personalize and localize content for a global audience.

4. You’re committed to innovation

AI avatars are ideal for companies that want to present a forward-thinking, innovative image. They’re also useful for industries where making content interactive is a top priority.

When to use traditional videos 

Teams that meet the following criteria might find traditional videos to be best for their needs. 

1. You’re working with complex visuals

Although some AI avatar tools allow you to use multiple avatars in a single scene, videos featuring a group of people might be more easily captured the traditional way. 

2. You have very limited video needs

Scalability is one of the top benefits of AI video. But for teams who don’t need a lot of video content, traditional videos may be sufficient, despite the higher cost. 

However, if you’re looking for a combination of traditional video and AI avatar videos, you’ll want to check out Colossyan’s Instant Avatar feature, which allows you to create an avatar of yourself from a video recorded in any setting. 

This free AI avatar generator allows you to film your scenario-based video footage once, and reuse that footage with any script you’d like. You’ll still get the body language of a natural video, but with the ability to create content at scale. 

Create your first AI avatar video for free with Colossyan 

Now that you know everything about AI avatar videos, you’re probably wondering where to start. Using an AI avatar creator is the fastest way to get your videos off the ground. 

Colossyan is the leading AI video tool that helps teams create professional-quality videos in minutes using text-to-speech AI avatars. 

With Colossyan, you can skip the acting, filming, and editing associated with traditional video production, and create high-quality video content in minutes – without having to pick up a camera. 

Simply add your script (or have our AI script assistant write one for you), select an avatar, and create your video. With over 150 diverse avatars to choose from, you’ll have an array of different actors to work with. 

Here’s an example video created with Colossyan:

And don’t forget, Colossyan’s Instant Avatar feature allows you to integrate some of the benefits of traditional videos into your AI generated content as well. Give instant avatars a try here – it’s completely free to make an AI avatar of yourself. 

Takeaway

Both AI avatar videos and traditional videos have their place in today’s digital landscape. 

Whereas an AI avatar app will allow you to create engaging video content quickly and efficiently, traditional videos still enable you to create emotionally moving videos with strong storytelling. At the end of the day, you’ll want to choose the format that best aligns with your objectives. 

But if you decide that the cost efficiency and time-saving benefit of AI video works best for your team, don’t forget to give Colossyan a try or book a demo to learn more. 

You can even create your very own custom avatar that looks and sounds like you for free today – it only takes a few minutes to create in Colossyan.