Or “How to create deep fakes 101”
by Andrew Waller
At the recent Realcomm CIO Forum (LINK) in London, there were several discussions and conversations about practical uses of AI within the property sector - from document analysis and predictive maintenance analysis to Chatbots and video Avatars.
Some of these uses are already common and more are being implemented with relative ease, but how easy is it to create AI Avatars of real people, and what could they be used for in our industry?
Avatar Antony
Recently, I and my good friend Antony Slumbers, who’s a futurist and a real estate digitalisation expert, decided to experiment with this technology using HeyGen – an AI video generator that allows you to create business videos with AI avatars of yourself, using voice-cloning and text-to-speech tools. We could have tried Synthesia but opted for HeyGen on this occasion.
The idea? To build a digital version of Antony to promote his online courses on mastering generative AI within real estate.
It turned out to be surprisingly simple and was akin to using any social media platform. We simply uploaded a 3–5-minute video of Antony recorded using a DSLR camera (which provided better separation between the avatar and the background).
The software then worked its magic, processing these inputs to produce an incredibly lifelike avatar. Antony’s digital doppelgänger was born!
The results are impressive (see below); the avatar looks and sounds remarkably like Antony (and check out the reflection in the window!).
However, those familiar with him might notice some discrepancies in body movements or sounds that reveal its AI nature. Importantly, we’re not trying to deceive anyone into thinking this is the real Antony; rather, it’s about utilising technology to enhance communication.
Setting everything up took about two hours and going forward, we’ll experiment with different backgrounds to keep things engaging. The big advantage? You don’t need a fresh shoot every time. Plus, Avatar Antony can instantly switch languages, making global communication a breeze.
The exciting part
What makes this avatar tech so powerful is how lifelike it is. We typed in any text, and Avatar Antony would say it straight back, with lip-syncing and natural movements. As mentioned above, HeyGen allows the avatars it creates to speak multiple languages – there are currently over 175 languages and dialects.
We tested it with a friendly native Swedish speaker, who kindly checked out the Swedish version of Antony, and it passed the test.
Imagine the possibilities. Real estate professionals connecting with international clients, breaking down language barriers. You could be explaining property details in Mandarin, Arabic, or French - all from your office in the UK.
Why this matters for real estate
Here’s how AI avatars could transform the industry:
Reaching international clients: Language is no longer a barrier.
Efficient training: Multilingual training materials can be created quickly.
Virtual property tours: Guided property tours that clients can access anytime, in any language.
Personalised marketing: Tailor-made messages for specific audiences.
Consistent branding: Consistent messaging across all platforms.
The Elephant in the Room: Deepfakes
We all know that AI like this raises concerns. Deepfakes are a real issue. An example of this was the unauthorised use of David Attenborough’s voice which was recently cloned in a fake audio track.
Because of this, at Remit Consulting, we’re advising clients to think about these risks and factor them into their digital plans. Thankfully, HeyGen has ethical safeguards: it only uses someone’s voice if they’ve given permission.
Looking forward
We’re not trying to fool anyone. The goal isn’t to trick people into thinking they’re dealing with the real Antony. It’s about using tech to communicate better and faster. As we keep experimenting, we’re excited to see where this could go.
In the future, maybe you’ll be closing deals with your own AI avatar. Just remember: if your digital double starts asking for a raise, it’s probably time to update your software!