Zoom has launched its Intelligent Director for Zoom Rooms to enhance the hybrid working experience.
The solution uses AI and multiple cameras to create the best image and angle of all participants in a meeting room so remote participants can see everyone clearly.
The solution intends to address the issue of participants being more likely to be hidden by others in bigger spaces when the meeting is only using a single camera. Intelligent Director’s multi-camera configuration and use of AI technology intend to provide "meeting equity to everyone in the room", as Zoom's announcement describes it.
Smita Hashim, Chief Product Officer at Zoom, said:
As more people return to the office, it’s no longer enough to deliver the best remote worker experience; every business needs a solution to deliver the best hybrid meeting experience. Even with some employees in the office, oftentimes other team members are dispersed, so meeting equity and inclusion become more important than ever. Intelligent Director is the solution that can bring employees together, regardless of location, so they can truly connect face-to-face."
Intelligent Director is designed for medium- to larger-sized rooms and can individually frame up to 16 participants in a Zoom Room using various cameras.
The Director selects the best view for each participant, even if they turn their heads or physically move around. Remote participants can now have face-to-face conversations with each meeting participant.
"You want to make sure everyone feels like they have a voice in a meeting," wrote Nathan Shaw, Sr. Product Marketing Manager at Zoom, in an accompanying blog post. "With Intelligent Director's AI technology pulling from multiple in-room cameras to identify the best view of each individual, you help everyone feel heard, involved, and included."
Intelligent Director can utilize the best video stream via a Zoom-designed AI and direct that stream to a Zoom meeting's gallery view.
The offering is an expansion of Zoom’s Smart Gallery feature, which uses one camera and AI to give each person in smaller meeting rooms their own space in a Zoom meeting. Intelligent Director leverages the same technology for larger conference rooms.
"By promoting a more equitable meeting experience for both remote and in-person attendees, Intelligent Director enables cohesive collaboration and clear communication across teams and workflows," Shaw added.
Zoom's AI-Centric 2023
Intelligent Director is one AI-powered solution among many launched by Zoom in 2023.
This month, Zoom IQ's generative AI-powered features became available for customers on select plans on a free trial basis. Those users could access the Zoom Meeting summary and Zoom Team Chat compose offerings designed to boost productivity and improve collaboration. Zoom's OpenAI-powered features were initially shown at this year's Enterprise Connect.
