Your AI avatars will attend meetings on your behalf in future, says Zoom CEO Eric Yuan

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 6, 2024 13:26 IST

Think about this: You are working from home on Monday morning. You have planned your day out and are thinking about grabbing a cup of coffee after finishing your work sharp at 5. Suddenly, there is a call from your boss and he wants to hold an "urgent" meeting in the office asap. And you live quite far away (which means the coffee plan is cancelled for sure). Now, we have all been in such situations and wished at these times that we could somehow be at two places at the same time. And as per Zoom CEO Eric Yuan, with the rise in AI, this might be possible in future.

In a recent interview with The Verge magazine, Yuan suggested that in the near future, AI avatars could attend meetings on behalf of users, potentially changing how corporate tasks are managed. He came up with a scenario where these avatars, trained on users' own content, could handle routine meetings and other mundane aspects of work life. However, he added that AI could never replace in-person human interactions.

He said, "Let’s assume, fast-forward five or six years, that AI is ready. AI probably can help for maybe 90 percent of the work, but in terms of real-time interaction, today, you and I are talking online. So, I can send my digital version — you can send your digital version. Again, not like an in-person meeting. If I stop by your office, let’s say I give you a hug, you shake my hand, right? I think AI cannot replace that. We still need to have in-person interaction. That is very important. Say you and I are sitting together in a local Starbucks, and we are having a very intimate conversation — AI cannot do that, either."

This idea of employing AI avatars could significantly alter work-life balance, Yuan said. He proposed that with AI taking over repetitive tasks, people could dedicate more time to personal interactions and activities outside of work. "You and I can have more time to have more in-person interactions, but maybe not for work. Maybe for something else. Why do we need to work five days a week? Down the road, four days or three days. Why not spend more time with your family?" he explained.

Meanwhile, Zoom continues to develop technologies that bridge the gap to this AI-powered future. The company has already integrated AI into its platform, with features like automated transcription and smart scheduling. These advancements not only enhance users' experience but also lay the groundwork for more sophisticated AI applications.

Yuan's vision reflects a growing sentiment amongst tech leaders that AI could drastically reshape the workforce. By delegating routine tasks to AI, employees might be able to focus on more strategic and creative aspects of their jobs. This shift could also lead to a re-evaluation of the traditional workweek, promoting a better work-life balance.

Despite the excitement surrounding these possibilities, there are also concerns about the implications of AI in the workplace. Issues such as job displacement, privacy, and the ethical use of AI are critical considerations that need to be addressed as the technology evolves.