Klarna used AI avatar of CEO to deliver Q1 financial earnings
Klarna, the buy-now-pay-later startup preparing for an initial public offering, took a bold step by using an AI-generated avatar of its CEO, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, to present its latest quarterly earnings.
The AI version of Siemiatkowski appeared in a company video on YouTube, delivering the financial highlights.
While the presentation was polished, subtle signs revealed the AI nature of the presenter.
The avatar blinked less frequently than a human and the voice sync, although convincing, was not flawless. Its brown jacket also closely resembled one seen in a popular corporate photo of the real Siemiatkowski, though the shirt differed.
Klarna credited its use of artificial intelligence for reaching 100 million users and achieving a fourth consecutive profitable quarter.
The company’s blog post highlighted AI-driven workforce optimisation, which led to a reduction of approximately 40 per cent in staff, boosting revenue per employee to nearly $1 million.
Human CEO Siemiatkowski confirmed that employee numbers had decreased from about 5,000 to nearly 3,000.
He also addressed AI's role in expanding Klarna on his X (formerly Twitter) page.
I really try to be balanced and consistent.
It’s just two things can be true at the same time:
1. We drive huge efficiencies helped by AI, and that continues!
2. And we realize, in an AI world, the human customer connection/support will be valued even higher, and we must…Siemiatkowski’s move follows a growing trend of exploring AI’s role in corporate leadership.
Artisan, an AI sales startup, famously released a humorous video in April suggesting its CEO had been replaced by an AI, reflecting broader conversations about AI’s potential to take on executive roles.
Research published by Harvard Business Review last year found AI models, such as those based on GPT-4o, could outperform human CEOs in many decision-making tasks.
However, the study also noted AI’s limitations in managing unpredictable “black swan” events, including economic crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, experts believe future AI leaders could overcome these challenges.
Klarna has yet to comment further on its AI avatar initiative.