Zoom’s New AI Update: Smart Notes, Avatars & More
▼ Summary
– Zoom launched an upgraded AI companion that works across meeting apps like Meet and Teams, plus features for personal notes, AI scheduling, and photorealistic avatars.
– The AI companion now supports cross-platform note-taking during in-person and virtual meetings to compete with specialized startups.
– New calendar features include AI-driven time slot suggestions for attendees and tools to identify skippable meetings.
– Zoom introduced photorealistic avatars that mimic user actions but carry potential deepfake risks, with availability expected by year-end.
– Additional upgrades include an enhanced web interface, AI writing and research tools, custom AI agents, and improved video quality and management.
Zoom has rolled out a significant suite of AI-driven enhancements aimed at transforming how professionals collaborate and manage their workflows. Announced at the company’s recent Zoomtopia conference, these updates introduce smarter meeting tools, cross-platform functionality, and even lifelike digital avatars, positioning Zoom to better compete with specialized productivity platforms.
A central improvement involves the expansion of Zoom’s AI Companion, which now works not only within Zoom but also across competing platforms like Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. This allows for consistent note-taking and transcription regardless of which video conferencing tool is being used. The system can also capture notes during in-person meetings, broadening its utility beyond virtual calls.
Taking inspiration from apps like Granola, Zoom now enables users to jot down personal notes during meetings. The AI can later expand and structure these rough notes into organized summaries. A new cross-platform search function lets users retrieve information stored across Google and Microsoft ecosystems, making it easier to locate past discussions and decisions.
Calendar management receives a boost as well. The AI Companion can identify optimal time slots that accommodate all attendees’ schedules. It also introduces a “free up my time” feature, which suggests low-priority meetings that can potentially be skipped. This functionality mirrors tools already offered by apps like Clockwise, reflecting a growing trend toward intelligent calendar optimization.
The platform will also provide proactive recommendations, such as suggested agenda items and follow-up tasks, helping teams prepare more effectively for meetings. A group AI assistant feature is being introduced to support collaborative work and decision-making.
One of the more visually striking additions is the introduction of photorealistic AI avatars. These digital representations mimic users’ gestures and expressions in real time, offering an alternative for those who prefer not to appear on camera. Zoom’s CEO, Eric Yuan, demonstrated this technology earlier this year during an earnings call. However, the feature raises concerns about potential misuse and deepfake risks, which may lead some organizations to restrict its use.
The avatars are expected to become available to general users by year’s end. They can also be used with Zoom Clips, an asynchronous video tool, allowing hosts to greet participants in waiting rooms or explain meeting purposes without being live on screen.
Additional upgrades include live translation capabilities, an overhauled web interface that highlights AI tools more prominently, and a writing assistant for drafting emails and documents. A deep research tool is also in development, along with support for custom AI agents using Model Context Protocol (MCP).
Zoom is also enhancing video quality, offering support for higher bit rates and 60fps streaming, and introducing a new video management system to help users organize and access recorded content.
(Source: TechCrunch)
