In a striking new trend, some of the world’s most influential tech CEOs are starting to let artificial intelligence do the talking—literally. This week, top executives used AI-generated avatars to present their companies’ earnings reports, making a clear statement about the growing role of AI in corporate leadership.
Klarna introduces AI CEO avatar
Buy-now-pay-later company Klarna has taken a bold step into the future. Instead of co-founder and CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski presenting the company’s Q1 2025 financial results in person, you heard from his AI avatar. In a video lasting just under a minute and a half, the AI version of Siemiatkowski welcomed viewers by saying, “It’s me, or rather, my AI avatar.” According to the video’s description, the avatar shared the company’s performance highlights.
Klarna has already made headlines for its deep integration of AI into daily operations. In a recent interview with CNBC, Siemiatkowski revealed that Klarna had reduced its workforce as part of its shift to AI-powered tools. This isn’t the company’s first use of an AI avatar for corporate announcements, but it’s a strong signal of how seriously the firm takes its commitment to innovation.
Using an AI-generated version of its CEO, Klarna is not just showcasing a tech gimmick. It’s offering a glimpse into a future where digital representatives might routinely handle key tasks traditionally carried out by top executives.
Zoom follows suit with an AI avatar
Klarna isn’t the only company trying this approach. Zoom’s CEO, Eric Yuan, also used an AI avatar to present the company’s Q1 2026 earnings update. In a video shared during the earnings call, Yuan’s digital twin introduced himself and stated, “Today, I’m using our custom avatars for Zoom Clips with AI Companion to share my part of the earnings report.” A note in the video confirmed it was “created with Zoom AI Companion.”
Yuan didn’t completely hand things over to AI, though. The real Eric Yuan appeared for the live Q&A session at the end of the call, answering analysts’ questions in real time. “I truly love my AI-generated avatar,” he remarked. “I think we are going to continue using that. I can tell you—I like that experience a lot.”
This isn’t the first time Yuan has supported using AI avatars. In the past, he’s spoken about his vision for “digital twins” attending meetings on your behalf, suggesting a future where your virtual self might be just as busy as you are.
What this means for the future
The use of AI avatars in such high-profile settings shows how rapidly artificial intelligence changes how businesses operate. These CEOs use their technology to lead by example, proving that AI tools can handle even the most public and high-stakes responsibilities.
Whether this becomes a common practice remains to be seen. However, by allowing AI to take the lead in earnings presentations, Klarna and Zoom are challenging the traditional roles of executives. They also show stakeholders and the broader public that AI is more than just a tool—it’s becoming a core part of corporate identity.
While some may question the lack of human presence, others will see this as a forward-thinking move that saves time and demonstrates confidence in the technology. Either way, the rise of AI CEOs could start a much bigger change in how companies communicate and operate.
