> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://evidano.gitbook.io/ailyze-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://evidano.gitbook.io/ailyze-docs/getting-started/create-your-first-ai-avatar-interviewer.md).

# Create Your First AI Avatar Interviewer

Set up an AI interviewer that talks to participants for you and collects survey answers, recordings, and transcripts on one dashboard.

This page shows you how to build and test your first AI Avatar Interviewer with the **Create AI Avatar Interviewer + Survey** workflow. At the end you will have a shareable interview link, tested for free, and a dashboard that collects survey answers, recordings, and transcripts.

For every option (voice-only interviewers, branching, moderation), see [Create an AI Avatar Interviewer](/ailyze-docs/collect-research-data/create-an-ai-avatar-interviewer.md); for what each field does, see [AI Avatar Interviewer Settings](/ailyze-docs/reference/settings/ai-avatar-interviewer.md).

## Before you start

* Two or three interview questions. A rough guide is fine; Evidano can format it.
* Building and testing are free. Collecting real interviews later needs a funded wallet.

## Step 1: Start a new project

From your account page, click **Create AI Avatar Interviewer + Survey**, then **Create New**.

You should see the **Project Setup** step, the first of **Project Setup**, **Design Survey**, and **Interview Script**.

## Step 2: Name the project

1. Type a **Project Name**, for example "Mobile clinic feedback".
2. Open **Supported Languages**, tick **English**, and press Esc.

You should see the **Custom URL Slug** fill in with a green tick.

<figure><img src="https://1178311500-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fi4GBXPMUDxszIpUVOARU%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1eaed839c38204fa5d8e877b43c25f77b01d38ee%2Fsettings-ai-avatar-interviewer-04-setup-fields.png?alt=media" alt="Project Name, Custom URL Slug with a green tick, Supported Languages and the interviewer cards"><figcaption><p>The slug is the end of your public link; edit it if you want something shorter.</p></figcaption></figure>

## Step 3: Pick an avatar and a voice

1. Leave **Video avatar** selected, click **Pro** under **Style**, then click an avatar card. Cards badged **Custom** open a contact form instead.
2. Under **Voice Selection**, press **Preview voice** on a few cards, then click the one you like.

You should see three cards appear below. For a first project, keep the defaults: **Survey → Interview**, **Simple flow**, and **Survey before interview**.

<figure><img src="https://1178311500-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fi4GBXPMUDxszIpUVOARU%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5969df2349a7359861c8a24127f826150a08a599%2Fsettings-ai-avatar-interviewer-07-voice.png?alt=media" alt="Voice Selection with the accent, voice cards and Preview voice"><figcaption><p>Prefer no video? Choose Voice only instead and pick a voice from one list.</p></figcaption></figure>

## Step 4: Design the survey

1. Click **Next: Design Survey**.
2. Click a template, such as **Demographic Survey**, or **Create own survey**.
3. Replace the template's \[xx] placeholders, delete questions you do not need, or ask the **AI Chat** panel for changes.

You should see your questions in the editor.

<figure><img src="https://1178311500-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fi4GBXPMUDxszIpUVOARU%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ac7b6c4d3a944e4a29ce7e76cffef4ddaa38d3cc%2Fsettings-ai-avatar-interviewer-10-survey-editor.png?alt=media" alt="Survey editor with a template loaded, the editor tabs and AI Chat"><figcaption><p>Preview shows the survey as participants will see it.</p></figcaption></figure>

## Step 5: Write the interview script

1. Click **Next: Interview Script**, then **Add Manually**.
2. Write the **Introduction**, ending with "Shall we start?"
3. Type your first question, then click **Add Question** for each of the others.
4. Write the **Conclusion**, ending with "You may close the page."

You should see the message under **Create Project**, "Interview introduction is required.", disappear. The grey text in an empty box is only an example; type your own.

<figure><img src="https://1178311500-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fi4GBXPMUDxszIpUVOARU%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-97a8a89e97fa6ae3a86195c268f3ef08828fd10b%2Fsettings-ai-avatar-interviewer-14-script-manual.png?alt=media" alt="Interview script with an introduction, two questions and a conclusion"><figcaption><p>Sample input: an invented project about a mobile clinic.</p></figcaption></figure>

**Tip:** Have a guide in a document? Paste it under **Paste & Format with AI** and click **Format with AI** instead.

## Step 6: Create the project

Click **Create Project**.

You should see the project dashboard with the status **Test (free)** (the project list calls it **Test Mode**).

<figure><img src="https://1178311500-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fi4GBXPMUDxszIpUVOARU%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c9e6611ff6075dea4d9c77aa3edb1b2de7dd9238%2Fsettings-ai-avatar-interviewer-28-dash-overview.png?alt=media" alt="Project dashboard with the interview URL, Status toggle, wallet and counters"><figcaption><p>Nothing is charged in Test (free) mode.</p></figcaption></figure>

## Step 7: Take your own interview

Click the open icon on the **Avatar interview URL** card and go through the interview yourself.

You should see a request to allow your microphone and camera, then the survey under a banner saying "This is a test session. Your responses will not be counted.", then the avatar.

## Step 8: Go live and share

1. On the **Status** card, click **Active**, then **Go live**.
2. Open **Participants & sharing** and copy the **Interview URL**.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Costs money:** Live interviews are charged by the minute; the **Go live?** dialog states the rate. Below the minimum wallet balance you see **Insufficient Balance** instead. See [Plans, Limits & Credits](/ailyze-docs/reference/plans-limits-and-credits.md).
{% endhint %}

You should see your responses arrive under **Responses** a few minutes after each interview.

<details>

<summary>Optional: if something goes wrong</summary>

* **Next stays grey:** read the message under it; it names the missing field.
* **The slug shows a cross:** someone already uses it; change a word.
* **No transcript yet:** recordings take a few minutes; click **Refresh now**.

</details>

## Next steps

* Explore every option — [Create an AI Avatar Interviewer](/ailyze-docs/collect-research-data/create-an-ai-avatar-interviewer.md)
* Analyze the transcripts you collect — [Analyze Interview Transcripts](/ailyze-docs/common-research-workflows/analyze-interview-transcripts.md)
* Something not working? [AI Avatar Interviewer Issues](/ailyze-docs/troubleshooting/ai-interviewer-issues.md)