Zoom is making significant strides toward allowing AI avatars to represent you in meetings. As part of an extensive expansion into artificial intelligence, Zoom has announced that it will soon enable users to create digital avatars that can deliver brief messages to team members on their behalf.
To create your personalized avatar, you’ll need to record an initial video of yourself. This footage will be processed by Zoom’s AI, which will generate an avatar that closely resembles you in both appearance and voice. After your avatar is set up, you can draft a message for it to convey, and the avatar will take care of delivering the message in your stead. This innovative feature will be available through Zoom’s Clips tool, which allows users to send short video updates to colleagues.
In light of concerns regarding deepfakes and misuse, Zoom is taking careful measures to ensure safety and authenticity. Smita Hashim, the chief product officer at Zoom, explained in a recent press briefing that the company is addressing these challenges with advanced authentication methods, watermarking technology, and stringent usage policies.
The introduction of custom AI avatars is expected to roll out early next year as part of Zoom’s new custom AI Companion add-on, which will be available for an additional fee of $12 per month. For users who do not opt for the add-on but have a paid Zoom subscription, there will still be the option to create clips using preset AI avatars and voices, though these may not be as personalized or appealing as creating avatars that reflect one’s likeness.
In an interview with Decoder earlier this year, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan shared his vision for the future of virtual meetings. He expressed a desire to allow users to send a “digital twin” to meetings or calls, enabling them to engage in other activities simultaneously. “Ideally, I do not need to join this session. I can send a digital version of myself to join, so I can go to the beach,” Yuan stated. He also mentioned that his digital counterpart could handle email management, reading through messages while the user focuses on other tasks. He emphasized the importance of leveraging AI and Zoom Workplace to fully automate routine tasks, which is a central goal for the company.
In addition to AI avatars, Zoom’s new custom add-on will enhance its capabilities by integrating AI with various third-party productivity applications such as Zendesk and Asana. Users will also gain access to new personalization features, enabling them to create customized templates for meeting summaries.
With these developments, Zoom aims to redefine the way meetings are conducted by utilizing AI technology. The introduction of AI avatars could significantly change the dynamics of virtual collaboration, allowing users to maintain productivity while simultaneously engaging in other activities. As the integration of AI becomes more prevalent in everyday tools, Zoom is positioning itself at the forefront of this transformation.
This ambitious project reflects a growing trend in the tech industry, where companies are increasingly exploring the potential of AI to improve user experience and streamline workflows. By focusing on personalization and user representation, Zoom hopes to enhance the remote work experience for teams, allowing for greater flexibility and efficiency.
As Zoom continues to innovate and expand its offerings, users can expect to see more features designed to enhance productivity and collaboration. The ability to send an AI avatar to represent oneself in meetings is just one of many steps the company is taking to adapt to the evolving landscape of remote work.
In conclusion, Zoom’s upcoming AI avatar feature represents a significant leap forward in virtual communication. By allowing users to create digital representations of themselves, the platform is set to redefine how people interact in meetings. With a focus on safety and authenticity, Zoom is committed to ensuring that these advancements enhance the user experience without compromising security. As the company rolls out these new features, it will be interesting to see how they reshape the future of work and collaboration in the digital age.