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updatedAt: 2026-09-16T11:16:10.000Z
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Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.synthesia.io/llms.txt. Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. Append .md to any documentation page URL to get its markdown version.

# Interactive Avatars

Build real-time, conversational avatar experiences on your own stack. You bring the LLM and speech-to-text; Synthesia renders the avatar, with optional built-in text-to-speech if you don't want to bring your own.

You'll need Python 3.10+ and a Synthesia API key with Interactive Avatar access to get started.

## Get oriented

<Cards>
  <a href="https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/ia-concepts" style="text-decoration:none;"><Card title="Concepts" icon="fa-diagram-project">The shared mental model: what runs where, and where your responsibilities begin and end.</Card></a>
  <a href="https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/ia-overview" style="text-decoration:none;"><Card title="Overview" icon="fa-sitemap">How a bring-your-own integration fits together end to end, from your app to the session.</Card></a>
</Cards>

<Cards>
  <a href="https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/ia-livekit-plugin-reference" style="text-decoration:none;"><Card title="Plugin reference" icon="fa-code">Every parameter, method, event, and exception in the livekit-plugins-synthesia package.</Card></a>
  <a href="https://github.com/synthesia-ai/skills" style="text-decoration:none;"><Card title="Build it with an agent" icon="fa-robot">A Claude Code and Cursor skill that wires up the LiveKit integration for you, automatically.</Card></a>
</Cards>

## [Quickstarts](https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/interactive-avatar-quickstarts)

Start with the Minimal quickstart.

<Cards> <a href="https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/interactive-avatar-minimal-quickstart" style="text-decoration:none;"><Card title="Minimal quickstart" icon="fa-circle-dot">The smallest working real-time avatar session. Start here.</Card></a> </Cards>

Building something more specific?

<Cards> <a href="https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/interactive-avatar-rag-quickstart" style="text-decoration:none;"><Card title="RAG quickstart" icon="fa-database">Ground your avatar's responses in your own knowledge base.</Card></a> <a href="https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/interactive-avatar-tools-quickstart" style="text-decoration:none;"><Card title="Tools quickstart" icon="fa-screwdriver-wrench">Give your avatar tools it can call during a live session.</Card></a> </Cards>

## Or integrate directly

*Not using the Python plugin? You can call the API yourself. You still connect to a LiveKit room, but you mint the token and manage the session instead of the plugin doing it for you.*

<Cards>
  <a href="https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/createinteractiveavatar" style="text-decoration:none;"><Card title="Create Interactive Avatar" icon="fa-user-plus">POST — Create an interactive avatar you can start sessions with.</Card></a>
  <a href="https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/createinteractiveavatarsession" style="text-decoration:none;"><Card title="Create Interactive Avatar Session" icon="fa-play">POST — Start a real-time session with an existing avatar.</Card></a>
</Cards>

## Troubleshooting

<Cards>
  <a href="https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/errors" style="text-decoration:none;"><Card title="Errors" icon="fa-triangle-exclamation">Error types and codes, and what each one means for your integration.</Card></a>
  <a href="https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/ia-operational-trust" style="text-decoration:none;"><Card title="Operational trust" icon="fa-shield-halved">Pricing, limits, known limitations, and production guidance.</Card></a>
</Cards>

***

[API updates](https://docs.synthesia.io/changelog) · [Status](https://status.synthesia.io)

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# Sub pages

* [Interactive Avatar: Concepts](https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/ia-concepts.md)
* [Interactive Avatar: Integration Overview](https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/ia-overview.md)
* [Interactive Avatar: LiveKit Plugin reference](https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/ia-livekit-plugin-reference.md)
* [Interactive Avatar: Quickstarts](https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/interactive-avatar-quickstarts.md)
* [Create an interactive avatar](https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/createinteractiveavatar.md)
* [Start an interactive avatar session](https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/createinteractiveavatarsession.md)
* [Interactive Avatars: Operational trust](https://docs.synthesia.io/reference/ia-operational-trust.md)