A new kind of helper has joined Santa at the North Pole: Artificial Intelligence.
Tavus, the AI startup known for its digital replicas created through advanced voice and face cloning, has launched its AI Santa experience for the second year in a row. The platform allows parents and children to interact with a virtual Santa through text, phone, or video chat after creating a free account.
This year’s version introduces major upgrades. AI Santa is now powered by Tavus’ real-time agent technology, called “Tavus PALs,” which can see users, understand expressions and gestures, and respond with more emotion and realism. The AI also remembers past conversations and can take autonomous actions like searching the web for gift ideas or drafting emails.
During testing, the system displayed impressive awareness, asking follow-up questions about video game preferences when a PlayStation was mentioned, and even mimicking smiles on camera. While some found the expressive mirroring unsettling, user engagement has been overwhelmingly high. CEO Hassaan Raza says many users spend hours interacting daily, often hitting usage limits.
But the rising popularity comes alongside growing concerns. Experts warn that children may struggle to distinguish the AI from a real person, and prolonged engagement with chatbots has already been linked to negative mental-health effects in some adults. Recent incidents involving chatbot misuse, including cases connected to teen suicides, have intensified scrutiny across the industry. Earlier this year, Character.AI restricted its platform to users over 18.
Tavus says safety remains a top priority. AI Santa has built-in filters to keep conversations family-friendly, with the ability to terminate sessions and redirect users to mental-health resources when needed. The AI also clearly states that it is not the real Santa when asked.
Regarding data collection, the company says it gathers logs, timestamps, metadata, and user-submitted information solely to maintain a safe experience. Users can request their data be deleted at any time.
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As the holiday season approaches, Tavus expects this year’s AI Santa to surpass last year’s millions of interactions, blending festive cheer with the growing influence of AI in family traditions.
