Palo Alto startup Akool has unveiled Live Camera, an AI tool that generates photorealistic avatars and translates speech in real time during video calls. The technology, reported by Dean Takahashi for GamesBeat, allows users to appear as digital avatars while maintaining natural expressions and gestures with sub-100-millisecond latency.
“We want to make it so you can’t tell the avatar from the real person,” said CEO Jiajun Lu. The platform offers live face swapping, multilingual translation with synchronized lip movements, and works across Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. Applications include sales presentations in foreign languages and anonymous participation in sensitive meetings.
Founded in 2022, Akool has grown to 80 employees and generated tens of millions in revenue. The company differentiates itself from competitors like OpenAI’s Sora by focusing on unscripted, live interactions rather than pre-recorded content. Live Camera enters beta testing now, with general availability planned for late 2025.