Starnberg, March 29, 2025 – With the launch of two custom-developed AI personas – “Content Carla” and “Research Randy” – Starnberg-based viadoo GmbH is turning a new page in the story of digital transformation and of AI in change management. In a market often unsettled by opaque AI applications, viadoo has taken a bold step that’s capturing attention in the business world. viadoo has literally made AI part of its team.
The introduction of these avatars is more than a creative gimmick. It’s a strategic move to address the growing discomfort with AI’s “black box” nature. By allowing the viadoo Change Guides to see AI as their colleagues, the company promotes transparency through personification, both among their team and within client organizations. And viadoo achieved what many larger firms are still struggling with: emotional acceptance of AI in the workplace.
AI becomes a colleague and stops being a rival
“We’ve been working with Large Language Models (LLMs) since 2023 in both our content marketing and our core business: planning and successfully managing change and transformation projects,” explains Dominik Faust, founder and CEO of viadoo GmbH. “But we didn’t want to keep working with invisible assistants. So, we gave them names, roles, and faces.”
What began as an experiment has turned into a breakthrough. “We stopped saying ‘the AI said…’ and started saying ‘I’ll check with Carla or Randy’,” says Dominik. Suddenly, he says, AI wasn’t an abstract threat anymore. “It became a helpful colleague – not a rival who wants to take our jobs.” This is in line with viadoo’s understanding of itself as the human side of transformation.
“Because in the end, AI cannot replace what real change needs most: human trust, leadership, and soft skills like empathy”, Dominik ads. AI in change management can, however, do time-consuming data work, such as sentiment analysis of employee surveys, accelerating change communication, or making more informed and rapid strategic decisions.
Solving a multi-billion problem with the human side of transformation
And it is desperately needed. Between 70% and 85% of all initiatives for digital transformation and AI implementation still fail. This results in losses in the billions. The main reasons for failure are human factors such as poor communication, emotional resistance and widespread fears of AI. With “Content Carla” and “Research Randy”, viadoo has found a surprisingly effective option for overcoming these fears.
Dealing with the fears of those affected is a central task of effective change management. This applies to the implementation of AI systems just as much as to any other change project. That is why viadoo GmbH uses its avatars in all change projects to lead them to success more effectively and efficiently. “AI in change management will, however, never replace what viadoo makes the human side of transformation,” Dominik is convinced.
➡️ Meet “Content Carla”: A virtual guide for SEO-driven content marketing in change communication.
➡️ Meet “Research Randy”: A tireless analyst who delivers evidence-based insights to support transformation decisions.
Pictures: © viadoo’s Content Carla
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viadoo GmbH
viadoo GmbH is specialised in social and emotional aspects of changes. Like a solid Roman viaduct, we connect executives and teams (via) and help them lead transformations to success in a hands-on manner (doo). With our holistic approach and communicative methods we design change initiatives, stabilise performances of teams, inspire them to a shift of mindset, and implement trust. So that your transformation will succeed too!
