Artificial intelligence video platform Synthesia has introduced a new tool to help employees practice job skills through conversations with AI avatars.
The product, called Roleplay Sessions, lets workers rehearse scenarios such as sales calls, customer service interactions, or management discussions in a simulated setting. Employees receive instant feedback after each session, while managers access performance data for their teams.
Synthesia, whose clients include over 90% of Fortune 100 companies, created the tool after internal testing uncovered a gap in corporate training. Most programs demonstrate skills through videos or presentations but rarely offer structured practice before employees apply what they’ve learned.
Ken Lawshe, the company’s chief revenue officer, stated the issue had become urgent. “Every leadership team faces the same challenge: the skills employees need are evolving faster than training programs can keep up,” he said. “Practice has always been the missing piece because it required a manager’s time, and managers don’t have enough of it.”
How the tool works
The system builds on Synthesia’s AI video platform, which already allows organizations to generate training content with synthetic presenters. Roleplay Sessions extends this by enabling two-way conversations with interactive avatars.
These avatars go beyond scripted responses. They ask questions, challenge assumptions, and even simulate frustration in difficult customer service scenarios. After each session, an AI coach prompts the employee to reflect on their performance before delivering feedback tied to specific metrics. The feedback includes practical suggestions for improvement.
Sessions are available in English, German, Spanish, and French, with more languages planned. Employees can repeat scenarios as often as needed, and all data is compiled into dashboards for managers. This provides leaders with team-wide trends while allowing detailed reviews of individual performances.
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Early results and availability
Pilot programs at several large companies showed measurable improvements. At one Fortune 10 company, employees using Roleplay Sessions saw soft skills scores increase by more than 110% and technical skills improve by over 80% after a few weeks. Nearly 70% of participants returned to the platform on their own after completing required sessions.
A global recruitment firm reported a 30% skill improvement—three times its goal—with every core competency rising by at least 20%. At another European company, managers used the tool to prepare for important conversations, and early responses indicated strong support for wider use.
Roleplay Sessions is now available to all Synthesia customers. The company, certified for SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and GDPR compliance, designed the platform to work with existing HR and learning management systems. It also supports single sign-on and data residency options for European users.
This method of skill development isn’t new—corporate training has long used role-playing exercises, usually in live settings with human facilitators. The difference lies in scale. By automating practice and feedback, Synthesia aims to make skill reinforcement a regular part of professional development rather than an occasional workshop.
Some workers may hesitate to engage with avatars instead of real people. Early adoption numbers, however, suggest many are willing to try.
Synthesia is positioning Roleplay Sessions as the first step in a larger platform called Sessions, with more features planned. No timeline has been shared for those updates.
Companies seeking structured practice methods may find value in lessons from similar projects in other fields.
