Zoom has announced plans to introduce a photorealistic avatar feature for its workplace users in December. This will allow individuals to create a virtual version of themselves using a photo uploaded to the platform or taken within the app. Users will have the option to customize their avatars with different professional outfits, and the avatars will track real-time movements during meetings.
Previously, Zoom allowed users to send prerecorded messages utilizing an AI avatar. However, the upcoming feature extends this capability, enabling users to appear as AI clones during live meetings. Zoom’s CEO, Eric Yuan, has suggested a long-term vision for “digital twins,” virtual agents that could handle tasks and decision-making on behalf of users, though this concept is still in development.
To ensure authenticity, Zoom plans to implement safeguards with the avatar feature. A “live camera authentication” process will be in place to confirm that users are represented by their uploaded images, preventing impersonation. Additionally, there will be notifications displayed in meetings to indicate when an AI avatar is being used. Specific enrollment and authentication processes might change before the general rollout, as noted by Smita Hashim, Zoom’s Chief Product Officer.
In conjunction with the avatar feature, Zoom is set to launch real-time voice translation in December, allowing participants to hear speakers in their preferred language. The initial languages supported will include English, German, Chinese, French, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Portuguese, and Italian.
Zoom is also updating its AI assistant to perform tasks such as scheduling meetings and generating video clips. This updated assistant will be available for use in in-person meetings and on other platforms, including Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, where it can take notes.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/779154/zoom-ai-photorealistic-avatars-live-translation