How to have an AI video call

Spin up a real-time, humanlike AI video call in minutes—then scale it across your product.

AI video calls: a new era of human-machine connection

Imagine meeting face-to-face with an AI human who doesn’t just look real, but truly sees, hears, and responds to you in real time. This isn’t a scripted avatar or a pre-recorded video—it’s a living, breathing digital presence that brings the warmth and nuance of human conversation to any screen.

AI video calls are redefining what it means to interact with technology, closing the gap between people and machines with a level of realism and responsiveness that was once the stuff of science fiction.

With Tavus, this leap forward is powered by a trio of proprietary models working in concert. Phoenix-3 delivers full-face micro-expressions and emotional nuance, making every blink, smile, and subtle gesture feel authentic. Sparrow-0 ensures conversations flow naturally, with sub-600 ms response times and intelligent turn-taking that adapts to your rhythm.

Raven-0 brings visual perception to the table, allowing the AI to interpret body language, environmental cues, and even screen-shared content—enabling a depth of contextual understanding that’s unique in the field. This fusion of perception, expression, and conversational intelligence is what sets Tavus apart as a leader in conversational video AI.

The core models powering Tavus include:

 
• Phoenix-3: Real-time, full-face animation with micro-expressions and pristine identity preservation
 
• Sparrow-0: Ultra-fast, natural turn-taking for fluid, human-like conversation
 
• Raven-0: Contextual perception that interprets emotion, body language, and environment

Getting started is remarkably fast. Whether you’re a developer or a business leader, you can go from idea to a working AI video call in minutes. Tavus offers a no-code portal for instant pilots and demos, or a lightweight React integration for deeper customization.

Conversations support over 30 languages, with pixel-perfect lip-sync and crystal-clear audio, making global deployment seamless. This accessibility is a key reason why AI video calls are rapidly gaining traction across industries, as highlighted in recent research on AI’s impact on web conferencing platforms.

Teams are already using AI video calls for:

 
• First-round recruiting screens
 
• Patient intake and healthcare triage
 
• Training role-plays and immersive learning
 
• Product walkthroughs and onboarding
 
• Concierge-style support—at scale and always on brand

This guide will walk you through the fastest paths to launch your own AI video call, show you how to ground conversations with your knowledge base for accuracy, and explain how to measure impact using transcripts, perception signals, and call analytics. For a deeper dive into the underlying models and how Tavus brings the human layer to AI, explore the Phoenix model documentation.

AI video calls are more than a technical upgrade—they represent a cognitive leap in how we connect, learn, and build trust at scale. As organizations look to deliver richer, more human experiences without ballooning costs or complexity, Tavus offers a proven, scalable path forward.

Pick your path: no‑code or API to start your first AI video call

Fastest path for demos (no‑code portal)

Getting started with your first AI video call is easier than ever—no technical expertise required. In the Tavus portal, you can create a persona, click Start conversation, and instantly share the conversation URL. This approach is ideal for pilots, stakeholder demos, or quick user tests, letting you showcase lifelike AI interactions in minutes. The portal’s guided experience means you can iterate on personas and test scenarios without writing a single line of code.

In the portal, you’ll complete these steps:

 
• Create a persona in the Tavus portal
 
• Click Start conversation to generate a unique conversation URL
 
• Share the URL for instant access—perfect for pilots, demos, or user feedback sessions

For teams looking to scale or embed AI video calls into their own products, Tavus offers a range of integration options. Whether you’re building a static landing page or a complex web app, you can choose the method that matches your stack and desired level of control.

Integration options at a glance

You can embed Tavus using the following options:

 
• @tavus/cvi-ui for React: Full-featured component library with advanced customization
 
• iframe for static sites: Quick, low-code embedding for demos and landing pages
 
• Vanilla JS for simple embeds: Lightweight option for basic dynamic behavior
 
• Node.js + Express for dynamic servers: Backend-driven dynamic embedding
 
• Daily SDK for maximum UI control: Deep customization for bespoke experiences

Developer path (CVI API + React)

If you want to go deeper, the CVI React component library makes it simple to embed Tavus’s Conversational Video Interface into your app. Here’s how to get started:

 
• Run npx @tavus/cvi-ui@latest init to set up your project
 
• Add the conversation block with npx @tavus/cvi-ui@latest add conversation
 
• Wrap your app with CVIProvider for context
 
• Render the conversation using <Conversation conversationUrl='YOUR_TAVUS_MEETING_URL' />

This approach gives you access to pre-built video chat components, device management, and real-time audio/video processing—letting you focus on your core product experience. For more technical details, see the React component library overview.

When to choose iframe vs component library

If you need a fast, no-fuss demo or want to embed a static experience, the iframe method is your best bet. For richer, branded experiences with advanced controls, the React component library or Daily SDK unlocks full customization. This flexibility means you can start simple and scale up as your needs evolve.

What you’ll need before you begin

No matter which path you choose, every Tavus AI video call is powered by industry-leading models: Phoenix‑3 for full-face emotion, Sparrow‑0 for sub‑600 ms conversational turn-taking, and global WebRTC for seamless performance. Conversations support over 30 languages, making it easy to connect with users worldwide.

Common use cases include first‑round interviews (reducing time‑to‑screen), sales demos (delivering consistent messaging), and L&D role‑plays (driving higher engagement than static LMS modules).

To see how other teams are leveraging real-time AI video calls, check out the Tavus homepage for an overview of the platform’s capabilities, or explore AI tool templates for inspiration on integrating conversational AI into your workflow.

Build the experience: persona, knowledge, and the call room

Create or choose a persona

The foundation of a compelling AI video call is the persona—the digital human who will represent your brand, answer questions, and guide users through each interaction. Tavus makes it easy to get started with a stock persona, like the Tavus Researcher, or to build your own from scratch.

Customization goes beyond appearance: you can define tone, conversation goals, and strict guardrails to ensure every interaction stays on brand and compliant. This flexibility is essential for organizations that need to maintain a consistent voice and meet regulatory requirements.

If you’re new to persona development, AI can accelerate the process by helping you create smarter, more human personas that reflect your audience’s needs and your brand’s values. Whether you’re building a digital recruiter, a healthcare intake assistant, or a product expert, the persona layer is where you define the experience.

Ground answers with your knowledge base

To deliver accurate, context-aware responses, attach your own documents or site URLs to the persona’s knowledge base. Tavus uses retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to surface relevant information in real time—responses can arrive in as little as 30 milliseconds, up to 15× faster than typical solutions.

You can fine-tune retrieval for speed, balance, or quality, depending on your use case. This approach ensures your AI human always has the latest product info, policies, or training material at their fingertips, without manual context injection.

To configure retrieval and grounding:

 
• Upload documents (PDF, CSV, TXT, PPTX, images) or provide public URLs—no custom coding required.
 
• Choose retrieval strategy: Speed (minimal latency), Balanced (default), or Quality (most relevant answers).
 
• Assign documents or tags to personas for dynamic, context-rich conversations.

For a deeper dive into how Tavus enables document referencing and blazing-fast RAG, see the knowledge base documentation.

Create a conversation room and join

Once your persona and knowledge base are ready, it’s time to launch the call room. Tavus provides a simple, developer-friendly API to spin up new conversations instantly. Here’s how the flow works:

 
• POST to /v2/conversations with your persona_id.
 
• Read the conversation_url in the response.
 
• Open the link directly or pass it into the Conversation component for seamless embedding.

For instant joining, use the following snippet:curl --request POST https://tavusapi.com/v2/conversations -H 'x-api-key: <api_key>' -d '{"persona_id":"<persona_id>"}'

You can find more technical details and integration options in the conversational video interface overview.

Test devices and UX before launch

Before users join a call, it’s best practice to add the HairCheck block. This pre-call step prompts users to verify their microphone and camera permissions, and adjust devices as needed. Not only does this reduce drop-off and support tickets, but it also ensures every session starts smoothly—no awkward troubleshooting required.

For a broader perspective on how AI personas are transforming segmentation and interaction quality, explore this research on AI personas for smarter decisions.

To see how Tavus is pioneering humanlike, real-time video AI, visit the Tavus homepage for an overview of our mission and capabilities.

Make it feel human: realism, accessibility, and analysis

Presence that builds trust

The magic of AI video calls lies in making every interaction feel unmistakably human. Tavus achieves this through a fusion of advanced models that bring emotional intelligence and presence to every conversation. Phoenix‑3, for example, delivers full-face animation with micro-expressions and pixel-perfect lip-sync, so your AI human doesn’t just talk—they emote, react, and connect. This level of realism is more than cosmetic; it’s foundational for building trust and engagement.

Key features that make interactions feel human include:

 
• Phoenix‑3 full-face animation for lifelike expressions and identity preservation
 
• Noise suppression and background blur for distraction-free focus
 
• Real-time translation and captions supporting 30+ languages
 
• Automated note-taking and instant call summaries

The impact is measurable. In a recent deployment, Final Round AI saw a 50% increase in user engagement, 80% higher retention, and twice-as-fast response times thanks to Sparrow‑0’s natural turn-taking. These results highlight how emotional intelligence and conversational rhythm drive deeper, more productive interactions—outperforming static avatars or rigid chatbots.

Accessibility and global reach

AI video calls should be accessible to everyone, everywhere. Tavus supports over 30 languages with crystal-clear audio and seamless lip-sync, ensuring conversations feel natural whether you’re speaking English, Spanish, or Mandarin. Built-in device checks and live captions make sessions inclusive for users with different needs or technical setups.

Accessibility features include:

 
• Crystal-clear audio and pixel-perfect lip-sync in 30+ languages
 
• Live captions, real-time translations, and device checks for accessibility
 
• Global WebRTC infrastructure for reliable, low-latency performance

This commitment to accessibility is backed by research on AI-powered systems for real-world accessibility, which shows that features like real-time visual descriptions and adaptive interfaces are critical for broad adoption.

Capture insights and measure impact

Beyond the call, Tavus provides a robust analytics stack to help you understand and optimize every interaction. You can export transcripts, emotion signals, and perception cues—such as those generated by Raven‑0—directly into your product dashboards or CRM. This is especially valuable in sensitive fields like healthcare, where ACTO Health uses perception cues to adapt tone and context, improving patient guidance and decision-making.

Available analytics and integrations include:

 
• Tavus transcripts and emotion/perception signals for deep analysis
 
• Integrations with Claap, OpenPhone, and Solidmatics for AI call analysis
 
• Exportable insights to product dashboards and CRM systems

To learn more about how Tavus is redefining conversational video AI and building the future of human computing, visit the Tavus homepage. For a broader perspective on the importance of user-centered design in human-AI interaction, see this research agenda on human-AI interaction.

Ship your first AI video call this week

A 1‑day quickstart plan

Launching your first AI video call is faster than you might think. Whether you’re a developer or a product owner, Tavus makes it possible to go from idea to live, humanlike AI conversation in a single day. Start by choosing your preferred integration path—either the no-code portal for instant pilots or the React component library for deeper customization.

Next, create a persona that reflects your brand’s tone and objectives. Use the POST /v2/conversations endpoint to generate a conversation_url, then run live tests with the HairCheck block enabled to ensure device permissions and a smooth user experience. This approach ensures you’re not just building a demo, but a robust, scalable foundation for real-time, emotionally intelligent interactions.

Your 1‑day checklist:

 
• Choose your path: no-code portal for rapid pilots or React for full-featured integration
 
• Create a persona tailored to your use case and compliance needs
 
• POST to /v2/conversations to receive a conversation_url
 
• Run live tests with HairCheck enabled to verify audio/video setup and reduce drop-off

A 1‑week pilot plan

To move from proof-of-concept to a meaningful pilot, focus on grounding your AI with real knowledge and measuring impact. Attach 3–5 knowledge documents or URLs to your persona to ensure accurate, context-aware responses—Tavus’s retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) delivers answers in as little as 30 ms, making conversations feel instant and natural. Run 5–10 user sessions to gather real-world feedback, then review transcripts and perception signals to understand both what was said and how users felt.

Use these insights to refine your objectives and guardrails, ensuring every interaction is safe, compliant, and on-brand. Finally, define 2–3 KPIs—such as CSAT, time-to-resolution, or conversion rates—to quantify success and guide future iterations.

To run a focused 1‑week pilot:

 
• Attach 3–5 knowledge docs or URLs for grounded, accurate answers
 
• Run 5–10 user sessions to collect feedback and surface edge cases
 
• Review transcripts and perception signals for actionable insights
 
• Refine objectives and guardrails to align with your brand and compliance needs
 
• Define 2–3 KPIs (e.g., CSAT, time-to-resolution, conversion) to measure impact

Expand after launch

Once your pilot is live, scaling is straightforward. Add role-specific personas—such as SDRs, recruiters, or coaches—to address diverse workflows. Embed the experience directly on your site using @tavus/cvi-ui for seamless integration, and enable conversation recordings for ongoing QA and training. This approach has helped companies like Final Round AI achieve 50% higher engagement and 2× faster response times, as detailed in their case study.

Keep it human

Above all, prioritize clarity, consent, accessibility, and an on-brand tone. Use guardrails to protect user safety and ensure compliance, and leverage Tavus’s perception models to maintain a human touch in every interaction. For a deeper dive into embedding and customizing your AI video call experience, explore the CVI embedding guide and learn how to integrate advanced features like the Conversation and HairCheck blocks. For broader context on the evolution of real-time AI video communication, see how AI video chat is redefining real-time communication.

If you’re ready to get started with Tavus, explore the portal or docs and launch your first AI video call today—we’re excited to see what you build. We hope this post was helpful.