Zoom Introduces Realistic Digital Avatars to Replace You in Video Calls

Picture Credits: The Verge

By Pavethran BatmanathenZoom’s newest feature allows users to create a digital avatar that can appear in video messages, eliminating the need to record your real face.

These lifelike avatars will initially be available only in Zoom Clips, a tool for recording brief video messages that can be sent to colleagues, the video conferencing platform has announced. Rather than recording yourself on camera, users can type out a script, and the software will generate an avatar that reads the text aloud.

The avatar will also mimic the user’s voice and sync its movements to match the speech. Although Zoom hasn’t fully detailed all the potential uses for this feature, it’s expected to be most useful for delivering pre-written scripts rather than for casual, off-the-cuff messages.

Set to launch early next year, the avatars will be available at a monthly cost of US$12 (approximately RM51). To create one, users will need to generate a digital version of themselves through a video scan. Zoom assures users that security measures will be in place to prevent any misuse of the avatars.

However, concerns have been raised over the potential for such software to be used to create deepfakes or extremely convincing fake videos. While the avatars are currently restricted to Zoom Clips, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan mentioned in an interview with The Verge in early 2024 that the technology may eventually allow users to send their digital twins to attend video meetings on their behalf, leaving them free to spend their day elsewhere.

Zoom gained immense popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as millions of people shifted to remote work and online learning. Now, the company is exploring new revenue streams with advanced, AI-powered premium features, including this avatar system.