To stay competitive in the crowded market for videoconferencing, Zoom is updating and rebranding several of its AI-powered features, including the generative AI assistant formerly known as Zoom IQ. The news comes after controversy over changes to Zoom’s terms of service, which implied that Zoom reserved the right to use customers’ videos to train its […],

Zoom Bolsters its AI Arsenal with Updates to its Features

Key Points

• Zoom is upgrading and rebranding a couple of its artificial intelligence (AI) features to stay ahead in the competitive market of videoconferencing, including the AI assistant earlier called Zoom IQ.
• This news follows recent controversy stirred by changes Zoom made to its terms of service that seemed to insinuate that they had the right to use customers’ videos to train its AI algorithms.
• Beyond the naming makeover, Zoom is investing in a more high-quality version of its AI assistant, thereby improving user experience by enabling smart virtual backgrounds, sharper screen-sharing, auto-framing video feeds, and coordinating meetings through intelligent personal assistants.
• The decision to revamp the AI capabilities of the platform is seen as a strategic move by Zoom to compete with several industry players like Microsoft’s Teams, Google Meet, and Cisco Webex, which also use intelligent algorithms to enhance users’ virtual meeting experiences.

Hot Take

Well, well, well, Zoom is at it again! Not content with being the overachieving kid of the digital classroom that it already is, it’s decided to double down on its AI game. I guess when you’re Zoom, you can’t just sit back, relax, and enjoy your pandemic popularity.

After all, what’s a little controversy about using customer videos for AI training when you’re racing against Silicon Valley heavyweights? It’s almost like they’re saying, “We saw what you did there, Google Meet and Teams. Cute stuff! But hold our beer while we upgrade our AI so that it doesn’t just creepily learn from your meetings but does it in high definition!” Talk about taking a controversy and turning it into an upgrade.

It looks like Zoom is driving hard into the future, moving from the simple ‘let’s meet online’ model to the ‘let’s meet online but in a shiny, AI-enhanced future where virtual backgrounds crisp and meetings coordinated by smart personal assistants are no longer sci-fi’. You’ve got to admire their audacity.

I must say, the world of video conferencing has never been so, well, competitive! It’s like watching an Olympic race, except competitors are jostling to offer smarter background blurs, and sharper cat filter removals – something that has definitely piqued my curiosity. It’s hard to keep the popcorn down when Zoom is making moves to out-strategize industry giants while also attempting to gain back public trust post controversial term changes.

So keep your eyes glued and earbuds charged, because, from the looks of it, this is only the beginning of a thrilling game where Zoom socks it to the competition by leveraging its AI capabilities. Who knows? The next big thing could just be a Zoom update away! In the meanwhile, let’s just hope it develops an AI solution for that guy at work who always forgets to mute during virtual meetings.