Static displays
£100,000+ as an upfront capital build - no interaction, and aging from day one.
Cost Guide
How much does a conversational AI avatar cost?
A straight answer to the first question everyone asks - and the factors that move the number up or down.
The short answer
Costs span a wide range.
It depends on the technology and how it's deployed.
Display cabinets
Hardware purchase plus an annual software fee.
Live telepresence
High up-front hardware plus annual software, billed around scheduled events.
Conversational AI avatars (Zigg.ai)
An all-in annual lease from £48,000/year - hardware, software, setup and support included.
Indicative; configurations vary. We confirm exact pricing in a demo.
The factors
What drives the cost.
Technology type.
Display-only is cheaper than real-time conversational AI; interaction is where the value (and some of the cost) sits.
Level of interaction.
Passive playback vs real-time, grounded dialogue.
Content & characters.
A pre-built persona is simpler than a fully custom character or an executive twin with a cloned voice.
Hardware format.
A large-format cabinet (Zigg Tall) vs a desktop unit (Zigg Mini).
Runtime / usage.
Real-time avatars are billed by the second - so idle-time handling matters. Zigg.ai only runs a live session when a visitor is present, which protects your costs.
Duration & scale.
A short campaign vs a permanent install; one unit vs a multi-unit fleet.
Logistics.
Delivery, install and support - included in a Zigg.ai lease.
The economics
Why leasing usually beats buying.
A static or purchased system is a capital project: large, fixed, and depreciating immediately. A lease is an operating cost: predictable, all-in, always on the latest models, with support included - and far easier to get through procurement.
Lower-risk way in
Not ready to commit? Start with a paid pilot.
A paid pilot from £10,000 lets stakeholders experience it first - and the fee is credited back (50–100%) against a lease signed within 30 days.