Face-to-face AI agents
Add a photorealistic, responsive visual presence to a conversational application.
Independent tool overview
Phoenix-4 at a glance
Phoenix-4 is Tavus's real-time facial behavior and rendering model for conversational AI humans, generating full-face motion, listening behavior, and controllable emotional expression at 1080p and 40 frames per second.
Visit the official Phoenix-4 site ↗
- Developer
- Tavus
- Category
- Real-time AI human rendering
- Output
- 1080p at 40 fps
- Access
- Tavus platform, APIs, and PALs
Overview
What Phoenix-4 is
Phoenix-4 is the visual rendering layer behind Tavus conversational AI humans. It turns speech and conversation context into a continuously generated face and upper-body performance instead of relying on a prerecorded idle loop with only the mouth animated.
Its main differentiators are explicit control across more than 10 emotional states, active-listening reactions while the user speaks, contextual head and facial movement, and real-time 1080p output at 40 frames per second. Tavus recommends combining it with Raven-1 perception and Sparrow-1 conversational timing for the full feedback loop.
Phoenix-4 is accessed through the Tavus platform and APIs rather than downloaded as a standalone model. Teams can start with stock AI humans, then use paid plans for custom replicas and larger production allowances.
Use cases
Who Phoenix-4 is best for
The strongest fit depends on the job you need the product to complete, not the size of its feature list.
Emotion-aware simulations
Control delivery for role-play, coaching, interviewing, or practice experiences where expression matters.
Interactive support and education
Create agents that keep moving and visibly listening throughout a two-way session.
Custom digital representatives
Build a branded or personally trained replica on eligible Tavus plans.
Capabilities
Core Phoenix-4 features
Explicit emotion control
Supports real-time transitions across more than 10 emotional states through prompts, LLM directives, or contextual behavior.
Active listening
Generates visible listening reactions and backchannels while the user is speaking instead of freezing or playing an idle loop.
Full-face generation
Controls the head, gaze, blinks, brows, cheeks, mouth, and other facial movement as a coordinated performance.
Real-time HD output
Tavus reports 1080p rendering at 40 frames per second for live conversational use.
Continuous transitions
Generates speaking, listening, and silent states continuously without swapping prerecorded clips.
Custom and stock replicas
Works with Tavus's stock library and with custom AI humans created from an image or a short video on eligible plans.
Perception integration
Can pair with Raven-1 so expressions respond to the user's tone, face, and perceived intent.
API delivery
Runs inside Tavus's Conversational Video Interface, which exposes conversations, personas, and replicas through developer APIs.
Process
How the Phoenix-4 workflow works
Step 1
Define the use case
Choose the audience, conversational objective, risk level, and situations that should be handed to a person.
Step 2
Select a replica
Start with a stock AI human or create a custom replica if the plan and likeness permissions support it.
Step 3
Configure the persona
Set the agent's instructions, knowledge, voice, opening message, objectives, and guardrails.
Step 4
Tune emotional behavior
Use automatic responses or explicit emotion controls, and add Raven-1 when visual and vocal perception are important.
Step 5
Integrate and test
Create conversations through the API, embed the interface, and test latency, interruptions, expressions, accessibility, and fallback handling.
Step 6
Monitor production sessions
Track minutes, concurrency, failure paths, consent, transcripts, recordings, and whether the agent's behavior is appropriate for the context.
Cost
Phoenix-4 pricing and free plan
Phoenix-4 is included through Tavus's Conversational Video Interface plans. Prices below are the current public Tavus platform prices; usage allowances, custom replicas, and concurrency increase by tier.
Basic
Free
Explore the API and stock AI humans without an upfront payment.
- 25 included conversation minutes
- Access to 25 stock AI humans
- API access and support for 30+ languages
Starter
$59/month + usage
For individuals and small teams moving a custom AI human into production.
- 100 included conversation minutes
- 3 custom AI humans
- Up to 3 concurrent conversations
Growth
$397/month + usage
For teams operating a larger replica library and higher conversation volume.
- 1,250 included conversation minutes
- 7 custom AI humans and access to 100+ stock replicas
- Up to 10 concurrent streams
Enterprise
Custom
For high-volume deployments that need custom limits, service commitments, and support.
- Unlimited custom replicas
- Custom concurrency limits and volume discounts
- White labeling and guaranteed SLAs
Pricing checked . Check current pricing at the source ↗
Assessment
Phoenix-4 strengths and limitations
Where it stands out
- Generates facial behavior during both speaking and listening states
- Provides explicit and contextual emotional control
- Combines real-time performance with 1080p output
- Offers stock, image-based, and video-trained replica paths
- Fits into a broader API stack for perception, timing, personas, and conversations
What to consider
- Phoenix-4 is a Tavus platform component, not a standalone downloadable model
- Custom replicas and meaningful production allowances require a paid plan
- Realistic faces and emotion can create consent, disclosure, impersonation, and user-trust risks
- Performance still depends on the full conversation stack, network conditions, prompts, voice, and perception configuration
- Tavus's comparative quality and latency claims should be validated with the team's own devices, users, and use cases
Compare
Phoenix-4 alternatives
The right alternative depends on the specific output, workflow, controls and budget your project requires.
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Synthesia
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D-ID
Compare D-ID for talking avatars, AI agents, and photo-driven digital-person workflows.
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Phoenix-4 FAQs
What is Tavus Phoenix-4?
Phoenix-4 is Tavus's real-time facial behavior and rendering model for conversational AI humans. It generates full-face motion, emotional expression, and active-listening behavior from speech and conversation context.
Is Phoenix-4 a video generator?
It is designed for live conversational rendering rather than prompt-to-video production. The model continuously renders the AI human during a two-way session inside the Tavus Conversational Video Interface.
What resolution and frame rate does Phoenix-4 support?
Tavus reports that Phoenix-4 runs at 1080p and 40 frames per second.
Does Phoenix-4 understand the user's emotions?
Phoenix-4 handles expression and behavior. Tavus recommends pairing it with Raven-1 when the application should perceive the user's visual and vocal signals, and Sparrow-1 for conversational timing.
Is Phoenix-4 free?
Tavus offers a free Basic plan with 25 included conversation minutes and stock AI humans. Custom replicas and larger production allowances begin on paid plans.
Bottom line
Our Phoenix-4 verdict
Phoenix-4 is a strong fit for developers who need a real-time AI human that remains visually responsive while listening as well as speaking. Its value comes from Tavus's full conversation stack, so teams should test the complete experience—and its consent and disclosure safeguards—rather than judging the rendering model in isolation.
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