From: gregisenberg
AI avatars allow users to create incredible, personalized content, often in a Disney or Pixar-style format [00:00:08]. These AI-generated images and videos can drive significant revenue for businesses, particularly in marketing, which is fundamentally about storytelling [00:00:25]. By leveraging AI tools like Leonardo AI and Cling AI, and understanding how to use prompts effectively, individuals and startups can generate cash flow and create innovative products [00:00:30].
The Power of AI Avatars
AI avatars are digital characters or images created using artificial intelligence. The process often starts by providing an image reference, such as a photo of a child or person, and basic details like name, age, and gender [00:17:49]. AI tools can then generate a detailed prompt description of this character, including hairstyle, skin tone, and outfit, ensuring character consistency across different images or story parts [00:19:46].
Creating Consistent Characters
Maintaining a consistent character across a series of images or a narrative is crucial for storytelling. By generating a base prompt from an initial image, the same character can be depicted in various scenes and situations while retaining their core visual attributes [00:19:46]. For example, a character like “Greg” can be consistently shown exploring new ideas or interacting with magical objects, creating a cohesive visual story [00:16:17].
Tools for AI Avatar Generation
Key tools in the creation of AI avatars include:
- ChatGPT: Used to generate detailed textual prompts from an initial image and user-defined characteristics [00:18:23]. It can analyze an uploaded image and describe elements like hairstyle and clothing [00:19:29].
- Leonardo AI: This tool takes the generated prompt from ChatGPT to create high-resolution images of the AI avatar [00:20:07]. It offers free tokens for generation and can be connected via API for programmatic image creation [00:20:27].
- Cling AI: Converts static images created in Leonardo AI into animated videos [00:43:40]. It also features a dubbing capability that allows characters to lip-sync words, further enhancing media with AI and voice interaction [00:50:30].
- Remove.bg: Used to remove backgrounds from generated images, creating clean PNG stickers suitable for printing [01:00:02].
- Printful: A print-on-demand service with an API that can be integrated to automatically fulfill orders for physical products like stickers or clothing, using the AI-generated images [01:01:01].
Understanding Sequential Prompting
Sequential prompting is a technique where ChatGPT generates a prompt that is then used as an input for a different AI tool to create an output. This output, in turn, can be used as input for yet another tool, creating a chain of AI interactions [01:17:17].
ChatGPT as a Prompt Generator
Instead of directly generating the final image or video, ChatGPT is used to refine or create the specific prompt text needed for other specialized AI tools [01:14:43]. This allows for more precise control over the output of subsequent tools like Leonardo AI. Initially, this process is best done manually for rapid iteration and feedback [01:06:56]. Once the desired output is consistent, the workflow can be automated via APIs [01:19:15].
Multi-Tool Workflow
The sequential prompting workflow connects various AI tools:
- ChatGPT (Input: Image + Request): Analyzes an uploaded image and generates a detailed character description prompt [00:19:29]. It can also generate prompts for specific scenes, interactions between characters, or to add text overlays [00:45:01].
- Leonardo AI (Input: Prompt from ChatGPT): Creates high-quality images based on ChatGPT’s detailed prompt [00:32:00].
- Cling AI (Input: Image from Leonardo AI): Animates the static images, turning them into short video clips or GIFs [00:43:40]. This step also enables voice interaction and lip-syncing for characters [00:50:30].
- Remove.bg (Input: Image from Leonardo AI): Removes backgrounds from the generated images to create clean, transparent assets [01:00:02].
- Printful API (Input: Image from Remove.bg): Integrates with e-commerce platforms like Shopify to automatically print and ship physical products, such as stickers or t-shirts, featuring the AI-generated designs [01:01:01]. This process can be automated using tools like Zapier or Make for simpler integrations, or by bringing on an engineer for more complex custom API connections [01:28:48].
Business Opportunities with AI Avatars and Sequential Prompting
AI-First Personalized Greeting Cards (Moonpig 2.0)
Leveraging AI avatars and sequential prompting allows for the creation of an “AI-first” version of personalized greeting card companies like Moonpig.com [00:26:09]. This business model could generate significant revenue given Moonpig’s success [00:28:54].
Instead of traditional static cards, an AI-first platform could offer:
- Dynamic Character and Scene Creation: Users upload a photo, and AI generates a personalized avatar in a custom scene [00:32:32].
- AI-Generated Stories: Cards can become mini-stories with the avatar as the main character, automatically crafted by AI [00:32:34].
- Enhanced Templates: Templates dynamically adapt based on user input, like tone or voice [00:32:48].
- Video and Voice Integration: Short animated videos or AI-generated voiceovers can be added [00:32:55].
- Direct-to-Experience UI: Instead of navigating complex menus, users are immediately brought into a builder experience to create their card or story [00:37:00].
This approach offers higher value to customers, justifying premium pricing or monthly subscription models for unlimited access [00:33:17].
Animated Content and GIFs
The ability to turn static images into short animated clips using Cling AI opens up opportunities for creating engaging GIFs [00:43:40]. These can be used for:
- Personalized Memories: Transforming personal photos into animated stories for friends and family [00:25:21].
- Marketing and Engagement: Creating viral content by memefying topical moments with AI-generated characters [00:28:02]. This “always-on” marketing strategy engages audiences daily [00:09:53].
Educational Content
AI avatars can be used to create engaging educational content, transforming curriculum topics into interactive stories with personalized characters [00:41:55]. This “business to education” (B2E) model could offer schools and parents a more engaging way for children to learn about subjects like history, by creating visual narratives that capture attention [00:41:55].
Personalized Stickers and Physical Products
Another lucrative idea is creating AI voice character apps using Daily Bots for personalized stickers [00:52:53]. This could include:
- Teacher Stickers: Teachers could have AI-generated stickers of themselves saying “well done” or “good work” to incentivize students [00:53:15].
- Student Stickers: Children could earn stickers featuring their own AI-generated avatars, creating a highly personal and motivating reward [00:53:48].
The workflow involves using ChatGPT for prompt generation, Leonardo AI for the image, and Remove.bg to create a transparent sticker image (PNG) [01:00:32]. This can then be sent to a print-on-demand service like Printful via their API for automated fulfillment, creating a fully automated physical product business [01:01:01].
The New Business Landscape
The advent of AI, coupled with shifts like increased remote work, has profoundly changed how businesses operate:
- Product Development: Previously, launching a product required significant VC capital, years of development, and hiring expensive software engineers [00:05:03]. Now, products can be built instantly, at low cost, and often with zero employees, thanks to AI’s ability to automate complex tasks [00:07:05].
- Marketing: Traditional marketing relied on large social media budgets, creative teams, and seasonal campaigns [00:05:30]. The shift is towards “always-on” marketing where solo entrepreneurs engage their audience through transparency and daily storytelling, often by publicly sharing their journey and progress [00:08:46]. This embeds AI for app virality and user engagement.
- Operations: The cultural shift has moved from physical office spaces and large teams to remote workforces and leaner operations [00:09:34]. Businesses can hire talent globally and build faster with fewer people, significantly reducing overheads [00:09:56].
AI enables individuals to perform the work of multiple people, eliminating the need for large teams of content writers, graphic designers, and marketing managers [01:13:09]. This allows for rapid iteration and the quick launch of new ideas.
Conclusion
The combination of AI avatars and sequential prompting offers immense opportunities for innovation and revenue generation. By carefully designing user experience for AI apps and understanding how to chain together powerful AI tools, entrepreneurs can create highly personalized and engaging products that were previously impossible or prohibitively expensive to produce. The key lies in strategic prompting and integrating various AI services to create seamless, automated workflows that deliver unique value to users.