How Ikonz Studios is revolutionizing human-AI interaction with hyper-realistic avatars

Adgully has been turning the spotlight on the entrepreneurs who fought against all odds to bring their dreams to fruition in our special series – START-UP STARS. We at Adgully wholeheartedly support the ‘Vocal for Local’ movement and have been featuring numerous local/ homegrown businesses, brands, and Apps in the country launched in the last few years.

In this interaction with Adgully, Abinav Varma Kalidindi, CEO and Founder of Ikonz Studios, speaks about revolutionizing human-AI interaction with hyper-realistic, multilingual AI avatars, bringing cultural icons to life. Overcoming security challenges, Ikonz Studios launched the world’s first AI hologram in banking, setting new industry standards. With strategic partnerships like Amitabh Bachchan and backing from Village Global, Ikonz aims to scale AI-driven avatars of 100 global icons across industries like healthcare, retail, and education.

What inspired the idea behind creating hyper-realistic, multilingual intelligent avatars, and how do you see them shaping the future of human-AI interaction?

From the very start, Ikonz has aimed to bridge culture and cutting-edge technology. The inspiration for our hyper-realistic, multilingual intelligent avatars came from the desire to bring iconic personalities closer to people in a truly interactive and meaningful way. We’re seeing a massive leap in AI capabilities – particularly in advanced conversational agents – and our goal is to harness these advancements to transform cultural icons into engaging, proactive AI companions.

These avatars, fueled by sophisticated generative AI, are poised to redefine human-AI interaction. As they become more life-like and personalized, they will change how individuals learn, seek information, and engage with brands and businesses. We envision a future where AI-driven avatars serve as a seamless extension of real human personalities, accessible to anyone, anywhere, in multiple languages.

Could you share specific challenges that Ikonz Studios faced in integrating generative AI and holographic technologies, and what innovative solutions were adopted?

Adopting any new medium inevitably comes with resistance and technical roadblocks. Our biggest challenge was ensuring robust security and reliability – especially since our first major deployment was in a high-security environment like a bank. Thanks to the belief and support of our partners, including Mr Amitabh Bachchan and IDFC First Bank, we created the world’s first interactive AI hologram in a banking setting.

This milestone required us to pioneer secure data transmission protocols and design a robust authentication layer that could handle stringent banking standards. By building a rock-solid infrastructure for generative AI and holography, we not only met security requirements but also developed an innovative model that can be replicated across industries with strict regulatory frameworks.

How does Ikonz Studios differentiate itself in a competitive global market, particularly in leveraging intellectual property from global icons?

We stand out by focusing on hyper-realistic AI-driven avatars and agents of iconic personalities. Our team comprises world-class experts in conversational AI – many with patented technologies – and cutting-edge designers from top institutions, plus numerous PhDs working on frontier AI systems.

This deep bench of talent enables us to transform the intellectual property of global icons into powerful, interactive experiences for brands and businesses. Moreover, we have built a solid legal framework and partnered with international investors and advisors from the entertainment domain. These elements help us protect and monetize IP globally while continuously pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with AI-driven avatars.

What role did strategic partnerships, such as onboarding Amitabh Bachchan, play in elevating your brand and technology offerings?

Partnering with Mr Bachchan truly put us on the global stage. His trust in our vision and his iconic status accelerated both our brand recognition and technological innovation. “Ikonz” is a name that symbolizes our commitment to legendary personalities, and working with Mr Bachchan validated that vision.

His involvement also challenged us to develop cutting-edge features that capture his iconic charisma and bring it to life through AI and holographic mediums. We have several exciting projects in the pipeline that build on this success, and these collaborations continue to shape our approach to immersive AI experiences.

How have prominent investor funds like Village Global contributed to your growth, and what insights have you gained from working with such renowned backers?

Village Global has been a tremendous supporter right from the start. Their backing – and the pedigree of their LPs (including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Eric Schmidt) – provided both validation and invaluable mentorship. Beyond capital, they’ve offered strategic guidance and an extensive network that has opened doors for us on a global scale.

Working with these visionary investors has sharpened our focus on creating scalable, high-impact solutions. Their mentorship sessions and collaborative events allow us to remain at the forefront of AI innovation while staying agile in response to market needs.

What strategies does Ikonz Studios employ to stay ahead of emerging trends in industries like healthcare, retail, and education, while maintaining innovation?

We maintain a proactive approach to research and market engagement. By staying close to our customers and understanding their pain points, we tailor our AI-driven solutions to real-world needs. Our global network of investors and partners also keeps us in tune with the latest developments in various industries.

Internally, we prioritize continuous learning and rapid prototyping. Our teams rigorously test new features and ideas in collaboration with clients, ensuring our solutions remain cutting-edge, secure, and adaptable to evolving industry standards.

Looking ahead, how do you envision Ikonz Studios scaling globally, and what milestones are you aiming for in the next five years?

Our vision is to build a portfolio of 100 iconic personalities – from entertainment and sports to music and beyond – and transform each into intelligent AI systems deployable across multiple verticals. We’re already forging strategic partnerships to bring these AI-driven avatars to audiences worldwide, and we’ll be announcing significant collaborations soon.

Over the next five years, our focus will be on:

• Expanding Our IP Portfolio: Securing rights to more global icons and developing their AI counterparts.
• Enhancing Technological Capabilities: Advancing our generative AI, holography, and security frameworks for seamless integration across industries.
• Global Partnerships: Collaborating with leading brands, governments, and institutions to standardize and scale our solutions worldwide.

Ultimately, we see Ikonz becoming synonymous with immersive AI experiences – offering one-on-one companionship, guidance, and engagement in diverse sectors, from healthcare to retail to education.