Smart avatars for you on Zoom coming soon

Zoom will be a big hit with the launch in 2025 of AI-powered avatars dedicated to sending short videos. Later, these dedicated intelligent agents can be used to participate in video conferences on your behalf.

Zoom has decided to put AI at the heart of its strategy, with the announcement of the rollout of a new functionality called “AI Companion 2.0.” The principle is to create your own smart avatar, which you will customize to be able to record and send short video messages to your correspondents.

To take advantage of this, all you have to do is photograph yourself once, so Zoom can create your avatar, in your photo. From now on, you can write any message you want him to say to you. This will initially only be for short videos to send to your friends or colleagues.

These avatars are scheduled to be deployed in early 2025, via a custom addon, Custom AI Companion, available for $12 per month. Without this extension, but with a paid account, you can still create an avatar with predefined faces and voices.

The main goal of having an avatar on Zoom is above all to save time, especially for users who have to share video messages regularly. It will be possible for them to produce without having to be in front of the camera. To prevent abuse, especially the creation of deepfakes, and regulate the use of these avatars, protections must be in place.

Eventually, Zoom could allow these intelligent avatars to attend video conferences at your place. Because this kind of smart twin can answer your calls one day and even participate in meetings in your absence.

This offers many advantages, especially for those who are uncomfortable in front of a camera or simply not available at conference time. The user will also be able to customize their avatar, such as deciding on its appearance depending on the event. But you have to be a little patient..