Developers
The Digital Human API
The Digital Human API. A real face for anything you build.
Give any app, agent, or website a hyper-realistic AI video human. Send text, get back a synchronized voice and face streaming in real time. One REST call to start, one LiveKit connection to render, nothing to host.
Free to start · No credit card · Model and framework agnostic
curl -X POST https://api.lookalike.com/v1/sessions/start \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $LOOKALIKE_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{ "identity_id": "your-identity-id" }'{
"room_name": "rm_8f3c…",
"token": "eyJhbGciOi…", // pre-minted LiveKit JWT
"livekit_url": "wss://…",
"dispatch_id": "dsp_51b2…",
"created_at": "2026-07-06T18:04:11Z"
}How it works
Three steps to a live face
From API key to talking digital human
STEP 01 / 03
Create an identity
One identity_id bundles a face, a cloned voice, and a persona. Build one from a photo and a voice sample, or start from a preconfigured identity.
STEP 02 / 03
Start a session
POST /v1/sessions/start with your bearer API key. The response returns room_name, a pre-minted LiveKit token, and livekit_url. No token signing on your side.
STEP 03 / 03
Stream the conversation
Connect with any LiveKit SDK. Text you send as assistant_text comes back as assistant_voice and assistant_video with sub-second latency.
import { Room } from 'livekit-client'
const room = new Room()
await room.connect(livekit_url, token)
// send your agent's text; it returns as voice + video
// assistant_text -> assistant_voice + assistant_videoWhy Lookalike
The easiest way to give AI a face
Everything hosted, nothing to rig
Hyper-realistic video humans
Lifelike faces built from a single photo, not cartoon avatars or 3D rigs. The same engine behind Lookalike's digital humans.
Sub-second latency
Realtime streaming over LiveKit, fast enough for natural face-to-face conversation instead of pre-rendered clips.
Fully hosted gateway
Face rendering, voice synthesis, and video transport run on our infrastructure. You operate no GPUs, media servers, or avatar pipeline.
Model agnostic
Bring any LLM: OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, or your own. Your agent thinks, The Digital Human API gives it a voice and a face.
Text, voice, and video modes
Serve the same identity across chat, calls, and realtime video from a single gateway and a single identity_id.
A no-code path too
Not ready for the API? Embed any Lookalike with one iframe and upgrade to the API when you need programmatic control.
Full reference in the developer docs
The endpoint map and error format are in the API reference, and session options like identity_id and avatar_enabled are in the realtime session guide.
FAQ
Digital Human API questions
Questions developers ask
What is The Digital Human API?
The Digital Human API is a REST and realtime API for adding a hyper-realistic AI video human to any app, website, or AI agent. You send text (assistant_text) and Lookalike streams back the same content spoken aloud (assistant_voice) on a lifelike talking face (assistant_video), in real time over LiveKit.
How do I add an AI avatar to my app with an API?
Call POST https://api.lookalike.com/v1/sessions/start with your API key and an identity_id. The response contains LiveKit credentials (room_name, token, livekit_url). Connect with any LiveKit SDK and your avatar is live: text you send comes back as synchronized voice and video.
Does The Digital Human API work with ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini agents?
Yes. The API is model agnostic. Your agent produces text with any LLM, you forward that text as assistant_text, and Lookalike renders the face and voice. It works the same with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or a local model.
What is an identity_id?
One identity_id bundles a face, a cloned voice, and a persona. Create identities from a photo and a voice sample, or start from a preconfigured one, then pass the id when starting a session to render that digital human.
How fast is the video? What is the latency?
Sessions stream over LiveKit with sub-second latency, fast enough for natural, face-to-face conversation rather than a rendered clip that arrives seconds later.
Do I need my own streaming or avatar infrastructure?
No. Lookalike is fully hosted: the face rendering, voice synthesis, and realtime video transport all run on our gateway. You make one REST call and connect a LiveKit client. There is no avatar pipeline, 3D rig, GPU fleet, or media server to operate.
Is there a no-code alternative to the API?
Yes. Every Lookalike can be embedded with a single iframe (https://lookalike.com/embed/YOUR_TOKEN?modes=video), which is the fastest path for websites and site builders. The API is for products and agents that want programmatic control.
How much does The Digital Human API cost?
You can create a Lookalike and start building for free, no credit card required. Partner API access is provisioned with an API key; see the pricing page for plans or contact us for volume pricing.
Ship a face, not a text box
Start with the docs, embed a Lookalike in minutes, or wire the realtime API into your agent. Your users will never talk to a blinking cursor again.