Microsoft taps D-ID to integrate AI avatars into Teams and beyond
Breakthrough technology enables real-time speech translation and lifelike digital agents.
D-ID, an Israeli AI company specializing in interactive avatars, has announced a partnership with Microsoft to integrate its technology into Microsoft Azure. The collaboration will allow businesses and developers to embed AI-powered avatars into their applications, transforming digital communication and customer interactions.
D-ID’s avatars, powered by advanced artificial intelligence, offer real-time engagement by simulating natural human interaction through voice, facial expressions, and even sign language. This technology enhances virtual communication, making it more intuitive and accessible. As businesses seek more immersive and personalized interactions, AI avatars are emerging as a solution to bridge language gaps, improve customer engagement, and assist users with disabilities.
A key feature of D-ID’s technology is its ability to translate speech into multiple languages while maintaining the speaker’s voice and synchronizing lip movements in real time. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize global communication by enabling seamless interactions across linguistic barriers. Additionally, D-ID’s avatars can provide real-time sign language translation, improving accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing users.
Beyond language translation, the partnership also addresses communication challenges faced by individuals with conditions such as ALS, which limit speech ability. By integrating with platforms like Microsoft Teams, D-ID’s avatars can restore the ability to communicate for individuals with speech impairments, offering them a new way to express themselves in real time. For those with complete paralysis, the technology goes a step further, allowing them to convey facial expressions and speech through AI-powered avatars, granting them greater autonomy and dignity.
Gil Perry, CEO of D-ID, highlighted the broader potential of the AI avatar market, projecting its value to exceed $700 billion by 2033. “We aim to revolutionize the way users interact with AI by replacing traditional graphical user interfaces (GUI) with natural user interfaces (NUI), transforming text and images into engaging AI avatars,” Perry stated. “By integrating D-ID’s technology with Microsoft’s platform, customers can create a more natural UI. Our focus on ethics, security, and innovation makes this partnership even stronger, positioning us as a trusted and reliable leader in the market.”
Annie Pearl, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Azure Experiences and Ecosystems at Microsoft, echoed this sentiment. “D-ID is improving communication and learning by adding a visually engaging, natural layer to AI agents,” Pearl said. “This innovation has the potential to make interactions more intuitive and impactful.”
