Deep Dive in Five with SJSU President Cynthia Teniente Matson: Introducing the New Presidential AI Avatar

On Friday, March 21, in a message to campus and on SJSU social media channels, San José State University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson became among the first university leaders in the nation to debut an artificial intelligence (AI) avatar.

President Teniente-Matson’s avatar was recently unveiled as part of an Adobe Design Thinking event last month as well as the Health Techquity event hosted by the College of Health and Human Sciences. The goal for its use within the SJSU community is to enhance communications efforts, bridge communications gaps and extend the voice of university leadership into new spaces.

How does the new presidential AI avatar work?

President Cynthia Teniente-Matson (CTM): My AI avatar was created using HeyGen’s generative AI platform. This technology creates a photorealistic digital representation based on a video and voice recording, allowing my avatar to look and sound like me in multiple languages. It will allow me to deliver messages in a dynamic and engaging way. It was important to me that what it says feels natural and conversational, not overly formal or scripted. To keep things impactful, my avatar’s messages will be short — under two minutes — so they’re clear, direct and to the point.

What will the avatar be used for?

CTM: By utilizing this technology, I hope to strengthen connections, enhance engagement, and showcase how SJSU is embracing innovation. To that end, my AI avatar will help me connect with different audiences in new ways:

• Campus community: I’ll be able to use it to share campus updates and announcements on social media, keeping students, faculty and staff informed about the latest university news.
• External partners: It will help highlight SJSU’s innovation and leadership in AI, especially with our industry partners in the tech space.
• Prospective students and families: It offers a new way to introduce them to SJSU, making it easier for me to share information about our campus, resources and opportunities.

How will the campus community be able to tell when your avatar is being used?

CTM: It’s important to me that there’s no confusion between my AI avatar and my true self. Every message from my avatar will clearly state that it is an AI-generated representation, and we’ll use visual cues — like on-screen labels or watermarks — to make that distinction obvious.

The avatar will only be used in digital communications, such as social media updates or virtual events where this kind of technology makes sense. While the avatar isn’t me, the messages it delivers will be reviewed and approved and will always reflect my voice, priorities and the work we’re doing at SJSU. Transparency is key, and we’ll ensure it’s always clear when my AI avatar is being used.

Additionally, my AI avatar will only appear on approved communication channels —such as official SJSU social media, emails from the Office of the President, or messages directly delivered by my staff. We also take security seriously. The tools used to create and deploy my AI avatar are protected, and HeyGen has multiple security measures in place to ensure that an avatar cannot be created without my explicit approval. The process requires verified authentication steps, meaning no one can generate or use my likeness without proper authorization.

We will actively monitor for any misuse, including attempts to manipulate or impersonate my avatar, to prevent misinformation or fraudulent activity. Transparency and security are top priorities, and we’ll ensure it’s always clear when and where my AI avatar is being used.

How does this project enhance or build upon SJSU’s work in the AI space?

CTM: I’ve seen firsthand the incredible work happening across our campus in AI — in our classrooms, in groundbreaking research and  in the ways our academic departments are integrating AI into their respective fields. SJSU is leveraging our geographical advantage as the university in the heart of Silicon Valley. Our region is at the forefront of AI innovation, and I believe it’s important to demonstrate my own willingness to embrace these emerging technologies in meaningful and thoughtful ways.

Using an AI avatar as part of my communications is a practical application of AI that aligns with our leadership in this space. It highlights how our institution is leveraging technology to enhance campus community engagement, improve accessibility and model responsible AI use. This project is another example of how SJSU is shaping the future in research, education and the ways we connect with both our local community and the broader region.

How else is AI being integrated into campus life?

CTM: AI is already transforming the way we learn, teach and innovate at SJSU, and I see that progress happening every day across our campus. We are integrating AI in ways that prepare our students for the future, support our faculty in the present and advance research that benefits society.

• In the classroom: Our academic programs are expanding AI coursework, with degrees in artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics to equip students with the skills they need for a rapidly evolving job market.
• In research: We’re collaborating with industry leaders like NVIDIA and the City of San José to advance AI research in areas like robotics, cybersecurity and AI for social good 
• For faculty: Programs like the AI+XR Learning Institute are giving our faculty the tools to integrate AI and extended reality into their teaching, ensuring students get hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies.
• Through student innovation: Our students are using AI to solve real-world problems, as we’ve seen through events like the Silicon Valley Innovation Challenge, where they develop AI-powered solutions with real impact.
• With productivity tools: SJSU is one of six universities nationally to be selected to participate in Google Gemini pilot program, designed to evaluate the Google Gemini for Education offering and its use at SJSU. Our campus also serves in a leadership role in the CSU’s groundbreaking systemwide AI partnership with OpenAI/Chat GPT, and we’re integrating AI tools in our partnership with Adobe as well.

AI is a key part of SJSU’s future, and we will continue to explore ways to harness its potential in ways that ethically serve our students, faculty and the broader community.

Learn more about the university’s integration of AI.