What Google Portraits Is

Google Portraits is an experiment from Google Labs that turns subject matter experts into AI-powered coaching avatars. These aren’t chatbots — they’re voice-enabled, animated avatars that interact with you conversationally, complete with emotional expression, tone variation, and natural speech patterns.

The first examples feature real experts: Kim Scott (author of Radical Candor) and Matt Dicks (storytelling expert). You can talk with their AI avatar about their domain expertise anytime you want — no scheduling, no hourly rate, no availability constraints.

Why This Changes the Coaching and Course Business

If a student can talk to an AI version of a recognized expert 24/7 — one that responds with emotional intelligence, remembers context, and adapts to their questions — the line between taking a course, hiring a coach, and talking to an AI avatar gets very blurry.

These AI coaches are one-to-one (not one-to-many), available on demand (not by appointment), and conversational (not text-based). That’s a direct challenge to anyone selling access to expertise through traditional formats.

Google Labs experiments typically take 3 to 12 months to go from experiment to public availability. Notebook LM took 6 months. Portraits was first announced in July 2024 — it’s been over 12 months. A public release could come at any time.

Three Things Educators Need to Do Now

1. Double down on frameworks. AI avatars can deliver information and answer questions. They struggle with teaching proprietary processes that require lived experience and context. Build frameworks that are uniquely yours — not repackaged content.

2. Get modular with your content. Break your expertise into small, specific question-and-answer chunks. This is the format that trains AI coaching tools most effectively. If you eventually create your own portrait, chunked content becomes training data.

3. Build your trusted authority now. The real currency is trust and credibility. People will choose the coach — human or AI — they know, like, and trust. YouTube and community building are how you establish that trust before AI avatars compete for the same attention.

The Opportunity Most People Are Missing

Instead of competing against AI portraits, consider creating your own. License your expertise as an AI avatar that other communities, campuses, or training programs can embed. Charge per month or per user. Your portrait becomes a product — not a replacement.