The Rise of AI Avatars in Corporate Earnings Calls

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in various industries has become increasingly prevalent, with tech companies at the forefront of this trend. Recently, CEOs of major tech companies have taken this a step further by using AI avatars to represent themselves in earnings calls.

Introduction to AI Avatars in Earnings Calls

Buy-now-pay-later company Klarna has featured an AI version of its CEO and co-founder, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, in an 83-second video discussing its Q1 2025 results. The AI avatar presented the results, introducing itself by saying, "it’s me, or rather, my AI avatar." This move is not entirely unexpected, given Klarna’s vocal stance on utilizing AI in its business operations. In fact, Siemiatkowski recently told CNBC that the company’s investment in AI contributed to its decision to shrink its workforce.

Other Companies Following Suit

Klarna is not the only company to use AI avatars in earnings calls. Zoom CEO Eric Yuan also deployed an AI version of himself for the company’s Q1 2026 earnings call. The AI avatar presented Yuan’s part of the earnings report, with the human Yuan appearing later for the live Q&A portion of the call. Yuan expressed his enthusiasm for the AI-generated avatar, stating that he "truly loves" the experience and plans to continue using it.

The Benefits and Implications of AI Avatars

The use of AI avatars in earnings calls raises interesting questions about the future of corporate communication. On one hand, AI avatars can provide a unique and engaging way to present information, potentially making complex financial data more accessible to a wider audience. On the other hand, the reliance on AI avatars may also raise concerns about the authenticity and transparency of corporate communications.

Conclusion

The use of AI avatars in earnings calls marks a significant shift in the way tech companies approach corporate communication. As AI technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how companies like Klarna and Zoom expand their use of AI avatars and what implications this may have for the future of business and finance. With CEOs like Yuan expressing their enthusiasm for AI-generated avatars, it is likely that we will see more companies exploring this technology in the coming years.