> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.contouron.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.contouron.com/api/visual-templates/4-viral-news-to-ai-avatar-videos.md).
# 4 Viral News to AI Avatar Videos
> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.contouron.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.contouron.com/api/templates/4-viral-news-to-ai-avatar-videos.md).
## 4 Viral News to AI Avatar Videos
#### Description
This fully automated AI Avatar Viral News system researches the latest trending news in your niche or industry, then generates talking head AI clone videos, WITHOUT having to film or edit yourself. It combines ChatGPT, Perplexity, HeyGen, and Contouron to research, create, and auto-post talking head AI avatar videos to every social media platform, every single day.
#### Platforms
| n8n | Make | Zapier |
|---|
| true | false | false |
#### Templates
#### Tutorials
#### Overview
Hereโs how the automation works:
**1. Trigger: Schedule**
* Configured to run once daily at 10am
**2. AI Researcher**
* Call Perplexity to research the top 10 latest news in your industry
* Select news story most likely to go viral
* Compile detailed factual report on selected news story
**3. AI Writer**
* AI writes monologue script, video caption, and short title
**4. Create Avatar Video**
* Call Heygen API (requires paid API plan), specifying your avatar ID and voice ID
* Create avatar video, optionally passing in an image/video background if you have a green screen avatar
**5. Get Video**
* Wait awhile, then fetch completed avatar video
**6. Publish to Social Media via Contouron**
* Pass the video URL directly to the Contouron Publish node - no upload step required
* Connect your Contouron account
* Choose your social accounts
* Either post immediately or schedule for later
#### Prerequisites
1. Sign up for Perplexity:
* Setup your API Billing.
* Generate your API Key:
2. Sign up for Heygen:
* Create your avatar.
* Paste your Heygen API key.
* Paste your Heygen avatar ID.
* Paste your Heygen voice ID.
* If you want a background image/video behind your avatar: (1) ensure you have an avatar with background removed which requires a higher tier plan; (2) open SETUP HEYGEN node and set parameter 'has\_background\_video' to \`true\`; (3) open SETUP HEYGEN node and replace video URL in parameter 'background\_video\_url'. I only recommend doing this AFTER the full workflow is operational.
3. Sign up for [Contouron.com](https://www.contouron.com/)
* Generate Contouron API Key by going to Settings > API > Generate API Key (paid feature only).
* If you're using n8n, [install the Contouron community node](https://help.contouron.com/api/n8n/n8n-contouron-node)
#### Tips & Tricks
While testing: enable only 1 social platform, and deactivate the rest for testing purposes. Update the AI writer prompt to return a 5-second script, rather than 30 seconds, to reduce the processing duration.
Go to Heygen and check that your avatar video is being processed.
After the workflow finishes, check your social media account for the final post.
If successful, then enable another social media node, and continue testing.
If you need help troubleshooting your automation:
* the [API Dashboard](https://my.contouron.com/api-dashboard) is your best friend
* go to my.contouron.com and click the ORANGE BUTTON in the bottom right corner to send me a support message
Other helpful links:
**๐** [**Contouron API Docs**](https://help.contouron.com/api)
โ
[**Troubleshoot Errors**](https://my.contouron.com/api-dashboard)
๐ท [**Media Requirements**](https://help.contouron.com/api/media)
#### n8n Notes
1. [Install the Contouron community node](https://help.contouron.com/api/n8n/n8n-contouron-node)
2. If a template shows question marks instead of the Contouron logo, install the Contouron node first, then re-import the template.
3. Create a new Credential in n8n. Go to Contouron Settings > API > Copy API Key. Paste the API key in n8n, save, test, then select this credential on Contouron nodes.
4. Connect social accounts on each platform node. Open each Contouron Publish node, select the Contouron credential, then pick your social account.
5. When testing, deactivate all social platform nodes. Activate just 1 to start with. Run the workflow, then Pin data at the Contouron Publish node. This locks inputs for repeat tests. Then, execute 1 platform node from pinned data to validate it works. Activate other social platforms to continue testing.
6. Use the [Contouron API dashboard](https://my.contouron.com/api-dashboard) to review each request, payload, and error message.
#### Make Notes
n/a
#### Zapier Notes
n/a
#### FAQs
**How do I get captions on my Heygen avatar video?**
You'll need to change 2 steps:
1. In the CREATE HEYGEN VIDEO step, there is a setting to enable captions. Make sure it's turned on.
2. In the Contouron Publish step, pass the `video_url_caption` from the GET VIDEO step into the mediaUrls parameter. This will use the video version with captions.
Remember to test your workflow after making this change to make sure everything works as expected.
---
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