AI’s Promise: A Future Where Video Meetings Are a Thing of the Past

Whether you’re excited or skeptical about AI’s rapid rise, there’s no denying that some tools could soon revolutionize how we approach video meetings—making them far less taxing.

By 2023, AI, especially through tools like ChatGPT, has become a hot topic of discussion.

While opinions differ on AI’s growing role in our professional lives, one thing is clear.

The timing couldn’t be better, considering the increasing burnout from “Zoom fatigue” post-pandemic.

The question now is: will AI completely transform the realm of video conferencing to the point where we can send bots to run our meetings for us.

Let’s explore how this might become a reality, as well as the tools that could one day streamline meetings so that the bots are doing the heavy lifting for us—not against us.

(Spoiler alert: middle management might be most affected by this shift).

Here are some ways that current tools are already paving the way for AI-driven meetings:

1. Meeting Preparation

AI tools like ChatGPT excel at transforming long, convoluted text into streamlined, meaningful summaries. Imagine the scenario.

You have a meeting later today, but you’re not ready. Instead of frantically writing out your portion, simply use Google Recorder to speak your thoughts, then input them into an AI like ChatGPT.

The AI can then create a structured summary, including bullet points, objectives, and next steps. While not flawless, this tool saves you hours of work.

2. Automating Agenda Setting

Nothing is more frustrating than a meeting that drags on without clear structure.

AI-powered agenda tools are here to help, automatically organizing topics, setting priorities, and imposing time limits to keep things moving.

Picture this: a bot intervenes when someone’s time is up and politely redirects the conversation to the next speaker. Efficiency at its finest.

3. Maintaining Eye Contact

Keeping eye contact during a video meeting can be tough, especially if you’re not physically engaged. Nvidia’s eye contact app helps simulate direct engagement.

Ensuring that even if you’re distracted or multitasking, it appears as though you’re fully attentive.

It’s not perfect, but it’s a step toward improving virtual communication.

4. Real-Time Captioning and Translation

Real-time transcription has improved, but third-party apps are taking it a step further by adding features like speaker identification and sentiment analysis. For international teams.

AI-powered translation tools can eliminate language barriers by offering instant translations and captions in each participant’s native language.

These tools also allow users to listen to the meeting in real-time, making global collaboration smoother than ever.

5. Virtual Meeting Assistants

Virtual meeting assistants are already transforming how meetings run.

These bots can take care of administrative tasks like sending documents, scheduling follow-ups, or fact-checking, while also identifying key points in conversations and suggesting improvements.

They’re invaluable for enhancing decision-making processes and streamlining interactions.

6. Virtual Reality Meeting Spaces

While some tech visionaries—like Tim Cook and Mark Zuckerberg—are pushing for a VR-powered future, the potential for VR combined with AI in meetings is real.

With spatial audio and immersive environments, VR meetings could simulate physical spaces, making remote work feel like you’re really in the room with your colleagues.

It’s an exciting vision of reducing the need for travel and improving engagement.

7. Deepfakes and Avatars

While you still have to physically attend meetings for now, AI is already advancing in deepfake technology.

By using enough video and audio recordings, AI can generate a digital version of you—complete with your voice and likeness.

Though this technology isn’t seamless yet, it’s becoming more accessible. Imagine delegating your meeting attendance to your AI twin and only sending in the necessary points.

All while the bot responds in your voice. It may not be long before this becomes a norm.

Popular AI Tools for Streamlining Meetings

There’s a growing list of AI tools specifically designed to enhance meetings. Some key players include:

Magical – a calendar tool that auto-generates meeting notes

Spoke – AI-driven minutes, highlights, and search

Dive – automates note-taking and action items

Hypercontext – collaborative agendas and meeting insights

Loopin – AI assistant for customer-facing teams

Avoma – assistant with revenue intelligence

Laxis – real-time transcription and highlights

Vowel – hosts, summarizes, and shares meetings effortlessly

Sembly – transcribes, generates insights, and automates follow-ups

Amy – helps prepare for meetings quickly and efficiently

These tools are all improving the meeting process, but imagine combining them with deepfakes or VR for a truly automated, virtual experience.

The Future of Video Meetings

While we’re not quite at the point where bots can fully replace us in video meetings, 2024 could bring us closer to that reality.

AI tools are already making meetings more efficient, and with the rapid pace of technological advancement.

It won’t be long before we’re able to delegate more tasks to AI—maybe even sending a bot with a pre-written script in our place.

For those of us tired of endless video calls, the future looks promising.