Zoom video conferencing became an indispensable tool during the outbreak of the pandemic. In 2020, its stock price skyrocketed to $559 and then plummeted to $58, resembling a roller coaster ride.
The newly launched AI Companion feature includes AI assistant-generated email drafts, AI suggested message replies, meeting summaries, project tracking and management, and group chat broadcasting. It is said to improve work efficiency for colleagues.
ASK AI Companion allows users to interact with AI assistants through the existing Zoom platform, helping with organizing trivial work details and daily communication.
Zoom’s AI assistant feature allows users to collect and consolidate information and meeting records from various groups. The official website video also showcases the new AI platform’s real-time multilingual translation and real-time captions features, enabling the creation of projects to organize and store calendars, meeting schedules, and key summaries.
AI Companion serves as a virtual partner in the workplace, similar to a studio or company’s administrative secretary. It can schedule meeting dates, record and store meeting minutes, and manage client and team projects. Its application scenarios are similar to the ChatGPT function, using machine learning to write and communicate daily messages with the team, along with features like Google Meet’s appointment scheduling and Agile’s scheduling. In addition to administrative assistant functions, AI Companion also has AI-generated image capabilities for instant presentation creation.
Zoom’s transformation from a virtual video conferencing platform to an AI intelligent work platform poses a significant threat to Google Meet, Slack, and Go To Meeting. AI Companion appears to have a much cleaner interface and more features than the aforementioned apps.
Zoom offers both a free version and an enterprise version, both of which require users to agree to provide data to Zoom for machine learning purposes in the default terms. By using Zoom, users are deemed to have consented to provide facial images, audio recordings, text conversations, and other records to Zoom free of charge. AI Companion is currently “free to use” and seems to undergo a testing period.
Considering the previous concerns in the US community about possible privacy violations by Zoom, Zoom is taking preventive measures against potential personal data leaks and security concerns caused by AI Companion.
According to Zoom’s official disclaimer, Zoom positions AI assistants as communication tools to assist companies internally and externally, targeting HR colleagues and marketing department partners. The former needs to assess employee performance, while the latter often requires brainstorming various creative plans.
AI Companion uses machine learning and algorithms to examine issues in work projects. The AI assistant serves as a due diligence tool and real-time interpreter, providing instant translations of different languages. Using AI Companion is a good governance solution for the increasing cross-border remote work. Even if employees do not go to the office, HR can still remotely monitor their work, effectively deterring employees who are accustomed to slacking off.
AI
Zoom
Further Reading
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