Swiss banking giant UBS has begun rolling out AI-generated video avatars of its analysts in an ambitious move to scale up client engagement and streamline research delivery. The bank is using technology from OpenAI and video avatar platform Synthesia to create digital replicas of its staff, with around 35 of its 720 analysts already having virtual counterparts.
To produce the avatars, analysts are filmed in a studio where their likeness and voice are captured. A large language model then reads their research reports, generates a script, and uses Synthesia’s technology to produce lifelike video presentations. The AI videos are tailored to meet increasing demand for short-form, engaging financial content, particularly as video platforms like TikTok influence professional communication formats.
Scott Solomon, UBS’s global head of research technology, explained the dual motivation behind the initiative: “There are two drivers for it: the client driver and the efficiency driver. It is helping you scale your video capabilities in a way that clients are asking you for, and ultimately saving you time to do your research and meet with clients.”
Participation in the avatar program is voluntary, and while early feedback has been positive, Solomon admits the tech still faces challenges, particularly with handling some accents. Despite these hurdles, UBS plans to ramp up production to as many as 5,000 videos annually—up from the current limit of 1,000, which is constrained by traditional studio capacity.
The bank publishes around 50,000 research documents each year, but the growing number of views on its limited video content underscores the rising importance of more accessible, visual formats in financial communications.