- Speaking on XR, digital twins, and AI-avatar integrations is Zoom CEO Eric Yuan.
The CEO of Zoom, Eric Yuan, revealed this week a number of new features and updates for the renowned video conferencing software’s next generation. The CEO of Zoom mentioned a number of planned immersive capabilities. Like other companies in the space, Zoom is dedicating itself to offering immersive XR versions of its application on new headsets.
However, it seems like Zoom’s CEO is proposing an expansion of the company’s product emphasis to incorporate various AI-powered XR features, potentially launching Zoom as a major player in providing immersive workplace applications, following a period of first-time deployment on XR devices.
Digital twins and AI avatars that give an immersive picture of a caller with integrated AI interactions are among the noteworthy XR features. Within a conversation with The Verge,Yuan explained.
Additionally, the CEO alluded to upcoming Zoom capabilities that include additional AI and XR integrations along with the integration of phone conversations, emails, whiteboards, coding, creative jobs, manager tasks, and project management tools. The objective of Zoom is to unify different workflows and services under one digital roof, thereby greatly expanding its offering. Our Workplace [platform] includes that. We are on a 2.0 path,” Yuan said.
Zoom will continue to offer video conferencing services, but as it investigates and introduces cutting-edge new AI and XR technologies, it may establish itself as a leading player in these markets. Yuan puts it this way: “We are going to become an AI-first company.”
Digital twins and AI avatars are coming to Zoom platforms.
Yuan claims that in order to increase participation and immersion during video calls—basically, “to listen to the call but also to interact with a participant in a meaningful way”—Zoom is attempting to incorporate coworkers’ AI avatars, or digital twins.
Yuan’s remarks would suggest that Zoom intends to incorporate meaningful 3D experiences and services—of a level of sophistication never before seen—into its video conferencing offering, thereby practically meeting workplace demands and expectations.
But the future is still unknown, and Zoom isn’t yet integrating 3D avatars that are suitable for business. According to Yuan, Zoom will begin its AI avatar journey with voice-only worker representations and will shortly include 3D worker representations to enhance the immersiveness of Zoom calls, “as with Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3.”
“That’s a 3D version of yourself that can mimic you very well, so you can’t know if it’s a real person or just a 3D version,” Yuan said, adding, “I think again, this is also the beginning.”
Based on its research and development as well as its comprehension of both present and future workplace requirements, Zoom is moving toward digital twins and avatars. Yuan emphasized that “two technologies” are needed to assist create an immersive future in order to realize Zoom’s XR goal.
Yuan also mentioned how customers will be able to develop avatars prepared for a variety of job circumstances thanks to Zoom’s digital twin/AI integration. According to the CEO, there are “multiple digital twins.” Yuan mentioned that an employee may make a digital twin for engineering, sales, and training, for instance.
Zoom XR: A Decade in Development
The company has aggressively marketed XR services since the platform’s surge during the pandemic phase, in spite of CEO Yuan’s recent remarks.
Zoom and Microsoft Teams announced a cooperation in 2022 that would enable customers to communicate across platforms and share meeting information across the two services without the need for extra licenses or outside assistance. The update also includes aims to enhance Zoom and Teams video conferencing through the use of VR and sophisticated AI.
“This is another reason why the Quest Pro is a big step forward for communication, including for work,” said Quest Product Team Lead Angela Cheng during Connect 2022 in reference to Meta’s announcement that year that it was collaborating with Zoom, the platform for video conferences, to test out its avatar mode in professional settings. The ability to share a workspace with your coworkers and feel truly together is still lacking in today’s world of dispersed work.
As Yuan previously stated, Zoom has unveiled a Vision Pro edition of their video conferencing software. According to Smita Hashim, Zoom on Apple Vision Pro will enable coworkers and employees to remain connected “no matter when and where they work, or how they communicate and collaborate.”Chief Product Officer at Zoom.
