Synthesia

London-based company whose AI turns a written script into a video with a lifelike presenter, used by companies for training and communication.

About Synthesia

Synthesia lets anyone make a professional video by typing a script. Its AI creates a lifelike presenter, or avatar, who speaks the words in a chosen voice and language, without cameras, actors or studios. Companies use it to make training videos, onboarding, compliance and sales content, product explainers and company announcements, and to translate them into other languages.

The company was founded in London in 2017 by Victor Riparbelli and Steffen Tjerrild, together with two university professors: Lourdes Agapito of University College London and Matthias Niessner of the Technical University of Munich. The professors developed the deep-learning methods behind the software. In 2018 a BBC programme showed the technology by making a presenter appear to speak Spanish, Mandarin and Hindi. Synthesia's early years were hard, with only about ten employees and few sales, and it then changed focus from entertainment studios to training and communication videos for businesses. It is headquartered in London.

Synthesia's stated mission is "helping people work better". It wants to change how organisations train, onboard and upskill their people by making video as easy to produce as a document. Its guiding principle is "people first". The company says 10 per cent of its team is always dedicated to AI safety and ethics, and it requires consent before anyone's likeness is used to create an avatar.

Its platform includes AI avatars and a video generator, AI dubbing and translation, a screen recorder, interactive role-play sessions for practising sales or management conversations, and an API for developers. Major steps include an AI video assistant in January 2024, expressive avatars in April 2024, and a bigger platform update called Synthesia 3.0 in October 2025.

Synthesia says it is a "global team" that works to help people work better, and invites applicants to its careers page. The pages we read do not describe a graduate or internship scheme or list company values in detail, so students should check the live roles.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Turn a script into a video with a lifelike presenter.', 'title': 'AI avatars and video generator'}
• {'desc': 'Translate videos into other languages with matching lip movements.', 'title': 'AI dubbing and translation'}
• {'desc': 'Role-play practice for sales calls and manager conversations.', 'title': 'Interactive sessions'}
• {'desc': 'Lets developers build avatar video into their own apps.', 'title': 'API'}
• {'desc': 'Rules requiring consent for likeness and screening of content.', 'title': 'Safety and consent'}

Key facts

• Founded: London, 2017
• Headquarters: Regent's Place, London, UK
• Founders: Victor Riparbelli, Steffen Tjerrild, Lourdes Agapito and Matthias Niessner
• Mission: helping people work better
• 10% of the team is dedicated to AI safety and ethics (company's own statement)

Website: www.synthesia.io