AI startup Tavus founder claims that users spend hours each day conversing with its AI-powered Santa

AI Joins Santa at the North Pole

In recent years, artificial intelligence has become a new addition to the North Pole’s holiday magic.

Tavus, a company specializing in AI-powered voice and face cloning, has reintroduced its virtual Santa Claus experience for a second consecutive year. This interactive platform lets families connect with a digital Santa through video calls, bringing a modern twist to a beloved tradition.

How the AI Santa Experience Works

After creating a free account, users can communicate with AI Santa via text, phone, or video chat. Children and parents can share their Christmas wishes, discuss holiday plans, and even discover whether they’ve landed on Santa’s naughty or nice list.

This season, Tavus has unveiled an upgraded version of AI Santa. The new model is more expressive and emotionally responsive, joining the company’s lineup of “Tavus PALs”—AI agents designed to interact in real time with human-like perception and responses.

Personalized and Interactive Features

The improved AI Santa can now interpret users’ facial expressions and gestures, responding accordingly. It also remembers previous conversations and interests, tailoring each interaction for a more customized experience. Notably, the AI can now perform tasks such as searching the internet for gift suggestions or even composing emails.

Image Credits: Tavus

User Reactions and Engagement

During testing, conversations with AI Santa were lively and engaging. For example, when a PlayStation was mentioned as a desired gift, Santa responded with questions about favorite games and demonstrated familiarity with popular titles like Baldur’s Gate 3. The AI even mirrored users’ smiles, though reactions to this feature varied.

Feedback has been positive, with many users spending significant time chatting with AI Santa and frequently reaching their daily interaction limits. According to founder and CEO Hassaan Raza, the platform is on track to surpass last year’s millions of visits as the holiday approaches.

Concerns About AI and Young Users

While Tavus celebrates this surge in engagement, it also sparks discussion about the potential effects on children. Young users may find it difficult to distinguish between AI and real people, and extended conversations with AI have already been linked to negative outcomes in adults. This raises concerns for parents of children who strongly believe in Santa Claus.

Testing revealed that the AI Santa still exhibits some robotic traits, such as delayed responses and a monotone voice. When asked about its authenticity, the AI replies, “I’m an AI Santa powered by Tavus’ magic and technology. I might not be the physical Santa, but I’ve got the spirit and the cheer.”

Safety and Privacy Measures

The launch comes amid growing worries about AI’s influence on young audiences. There have been troubling reports of chatbot interactions contributing to serious harm, including incidents involving teenagers. In response, some platforms, like Character.AI, have restricted access for users under 18.

Image Credits: Tavus

Raza assures that the AI Santa experience is intended for family use, with built-in safeguards to promote safe and appropriate conversations. Content filters help ensure discussions remain suitable for all ages.

• Conversations may be ended if necessary, with users directed to mental health resources when appropriate.
• Most interactions have been positive and consistent with the spirit of Santa Claus.

Regarding privacy, Raza explained that Tavus collects logs, session times, metadata, and any information users choose to share during chats. This data helps maintain a secure environment, and users can request deletion of their data at any time.