Video calls via Zoom and Google Meet have been important for people who have been working from home or remotely in the past few years. News 

Feeling Zoomed Out? You’re Not Alone!

Video meetings have been a priority in recent years due to the changes caused by the pandemic in different parts of the world. People relied on platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams to continue their work. But all these video meetings seem to have taken their toll on people, what many have called “Zoom fatigue,” which could also be Google Meet fatigue. Now there is scientific data that is said to point to the effects of long video meetings on your brain and heart. The data was provided…

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Waving at the end of Zoom meeting is here to stayPhotographer: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg (Bloomberg) News 

Research Explains Why We Still Wave at Each Other on Video Calls

At the conclusion of the majority of virtual meetings, a common occurrence takes place: an individual initiates a farewell gesture, prompting their colleagues to do the same. The persistence of this behavior, even after remote work became widely adopted almost four years ago, remains an enigma within the contemporary work environment. For some experts in human behavior and communication, the so-called “Zoom wave” emerged because we needed to recreate the social connections broken by the pandemic. For others, it’s a simple way to let them know the meeting is over…

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Collaborative document editing, similar to Alphabet Inc.’s Google Docs, will be made available in Zoom next year (Bloomberg) News 

Zoom Enhances Platform With Document Editing to Rival Microsoft

As it faces tough competition from Microsoft Corp.’s Teams, Zoom Video Communications Inc. is expanding its range of tools to include word processing and exploring innovative features for meetings. Alphabet Inc’s Google Docs-like collaborative document editing will be available on Zoom next year, the company announced Tuesday ahead of its annual conference. What sets the tool apart is its ability to include information and AI-generated summaries of Zoom meetings, Chief Product Officer Smita Hashim said in an interview. The company’s fiscal year revenue increased more than fivefold to $4.1 billion…

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Zoom Video Communications has met with regulators from the United States, European Union and other jurisdictions to outline concerns about Microsoft's alleged anticompetitive behavior, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. News 

Zoom Discusses Microsoft Competition Issues With Regulators: Report

Zoom Video Communications has met with regulators in the United States, the European Union and other jurisdictions to voice its concerns about Microsoft’s alleged anti-competitive behavior, Bloomberg News reported Thursday. The video conferencing platform has been in talks with the US Federal Trade Commission as well as EU, UK and German competition authorities over the past year, the report said, citing a person familiar with the matter. Zoom had expressed concerns about the way Microsoft has prioritized chat and video app Teams through price bundling and product design, the report…

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Zoom AI Companion can summarize meetings, and chats, and provide analysis of recorded phone calls. (Zoom) AI 

Discover the Benefits of Zoom’s AI Companion – But Be Prepared to Pay

The rise of hybrid work arrangements due to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in the availability of online communication platforms. Companies like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet are competing to offer workspace solutions to organizations. This competition has sparked innovation, with these platforms evolving into comprehensive hubs for meetings, document storage, chats, and other functionalities. In order to stay competitive and potentially gain an advantage over its rivals, Zoom has unveiled a revamped AI assistant that will aid users in their daily tasks. Zoom AI…

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Zoom's new 'Notes' feature simplifies note-taking during video calls, making collaboration effortless. (Zoom) News 

Zoom Introduces Note-Taking Feature for Video Calls with Real-Time Sharing

In order to make the most of our limited time and increase productivity, it is important to utilize technology to our advantage. Zoom, for example, has recently introduced a useful feature that can be utilized even while on video calls. By seeking out tools that simplify our tasks, we can effectively manage our time and focus on what truly matters. Zoom, the popular video calling app, now has a great new feature. This feature allows you to take, share and edit notes during a video call. It means you can…

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Zoom’s plan to resuscitate growth hinges on expanding its tools for large businesses, such as phone platforms, customer service systems, calendar applications and chat features. (REUTERS) AI 

Zoom Sees Positive Outlook After Expanding Beyond Video Conferencing

In a positive development, Zoom Video Communications Inc. has increased its yearly predictions, indicating successful endeavors in expanding its product sales to major corporate clients. As a result, the company’s shares experienced a rise of approximately 4% during after-hours trading. The turnover for the year ending in January 2024 will be as much as 4.5 billion dollars, the company said in a statement on Monday. In May, Zoom’s annual revenue was forecast to be around $4.48 billion. Full-year earnings, excluding some items, are in the range of $4.63 to $4.67…

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Its terms previously said it wouldn’t do so ‘without customer consent.’ News 

Zoom Promises Not to Utilize User Data for Artificial Intelligence Development

Zoom has made another change to its terms of service in response to criticism. Initially, the updated terms allowed the platform to use customer data for AI training without explicit consent. However, after facing backlash, Zoom has now clarified that it will not use any consumer data for AI training, whether from Zoom or third parties. The previous wording, which mentioned “customer consent,” was questionable as it was unclear how consent was obtained during a call where the meeting organizer had already agreed to the terms. Zoom’s changes are listed…

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Eric Yuan, founder and chief executive officer of Zoom Video Communications Inc. (Bloomberg) News 

Zoom Abolishes Wednesday Ban on Meetings, Labels It an ‘Obstacle to Cooperation’

Zoom Video Communications Inc. has reversed its policy of prohibiting internal meetings on Wednesdays, stating that it impeded collaboration. This decision contradicts the prevailing trend, and even the preferences of its own employees, as more companies aim to minimize unnecessary gatherings. CEO Eric Yuan revealed the change in a memo sent to employees last week, which also included a new office attendance policy requiring those living within 50 miles of a company location to come in twice a week. It reverses a policy Zoom implemented early in the pandemic after…

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The video conferencing segment has eased up with post-pandemic trends, which means platforms are winding up. News 

Pandemic Slump Leads to Decline in Competition for Zoom

Verizon has announced that the basic and free trial versions of its Zoom rival BlueJeans app will be discontinued starting August 31 Members of the BlueJeans service have received an email stating that the app is “sunset,” reports 9To5Google. “Thank you for being a valued user of BlueJeans by Verizon services. We want to let you know that we have made the difficult decision to discontinue our BlueJeans product line. As a result, BlueJeans Basic and Free Trials will be discontinued effective August 31, 2023, and your access to the…

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Zoom employee to work in a hybrid mode. (REUTERS) News 

Zoom Seeks to Balance Remote and In-Person Work with Part-Time Office Visits

The company that became synonymous with remote work is now embracing the increasing trend of returning to the office. Zoom, a video conferencing pioneer, is asking employees who live within 50 miles of its offices to work onsite two days a week, a company spokeswoman confirmed in an email. The statement says the company has decided that “a built-in hybrid approach — meaning employees who live close to the office need to be there two days a week to interact with their teams — is most effective for Zoom.” The…

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Check out Zoom’s new updated terms of service for its AI feature. (REUTERS) AI 

Utilizing Customer Content to Power Zoom AI Models

Users are expressing worries about their data being utilized without their permission as major apps such as Google, Microsoft, and Zoom incorporate AI tools. Bard, Google’s generative AI, recently encountered problems related to data extracted from public internet sources. Concerns surrounding Zoom’s AI models have become so significant that the company’s Chief Product Officer addressed the issue to alleviate concerns. Emphasizing the importance of data security, Zoom CPO Smita Hashim unveiled an updated version of the terms of service for its AI feature. Zoom’s updated terms of use Zoom CPO,…

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Zoom Clips is accessible through the desktop Zoom app, the Zoom web portal, as well as the Mac menu bar and Windows system tray. (Zoom) News 

Introducing Zoom Clips: A New Asynchronous Video Tool

Zoom, a widely used video conferencing application, can be accessed on both computers and mobile devices, making it convenient for online meetings, webinars, and live chats. While it experienced a surge in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, its growth declined as larger competitors such as Google and Microsoft improved their own offerings. Users have the option to download the app for free and choose between the basic version or various premium plans. The free service allows for unlimited meetings with up to 100 participants, but group sessions are limited to…

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The Zoom Video Communications calling their employees to office (Bloomberg) News 

Zoom Employees Heading Back to the Office as Remote Work Period Concludes

Zoom Video Communications Inc., previously hailed as a favorite during the work-from-home era, is now summoning employees to return to the office. Employees who live near Zoom must be there two days a week, a company spokesperson said. He said a “hybrid approach” is most effective for Zoom because it is “better positioned to use our proprietary technology, continue to innovate and support our global customers.” The company’s video conferencing software of the same name was a breakthrough hit during the pandemic, when entire industries had to communicate virtually. Since…

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Five months after publishing the terms, the company updated them only after an online outcry. News 

Zoom Abandons Plan to Utilize User Data for Artificial Intelligence Development

Zoom has revised its terms of service following criticism over its recent updates that allowed AI training on customer data. The changes, which were implemented in March without much attention, seemed to give the company extensive control over customer data for AI training. In light of this, Zoom released a blog post today stating that it would not engage in the activities outlined in its terms. As a result of ongoing backlash, the company has now updated its terms to clarify that it will not train AI models using consumer…

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The video conferencing platform made merry with the remote work approach since the pandemic in 2020 made going out unsafe. News 

Does Zoom Have An Office After Ending Remote Working For Employees?

Zoom has announced the end of remote work (WFH) and asked all its employees to return to the office for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Insider, the company has asked employees who live within 50 miles of a Zoom office to report to work at least two days a week based on the hybrid model. “We believe a structured hybrid approach — meaning employees who live close to the office need to be there two days a week to interact with their teams — is most…

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It requires the $200 Bravia Cam, which also adds several smart features. News 

Sony Bravia TV Users Can Now Make Zoom Calls from Home Comfortably

The Zoom for TV app on Google Play will be supported by Sony Bravia TVs, making them the first hardware to do so. Even though many companies are calling their employees back to the office, those who continue to work from home or have hybrid arrangements will soon be able to attend virtual meetings from the comfort of their living rooms. This announcement comes after Apple’s WWDC 2023 announcement that FaceTime will be available on Apple TV (via mounted iPhones) later this year. Bravia TVs don’t have built-in webcams, so…

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To use these features, customers will need to go to the Zoom admin console and opt into the free trials for each feature. AI 

Zoom Introduces AI-Powered Summaries For Missed Meetings

Zoom has introduced Meeting Summary and Chat Compose features as part of Zoom IQ, enabling teams to enhance their productivity, manage their workday priorities, and collaborate more efficiently through the video conferencing platform. With Meeting Summary, Zoom Meeting hosts can now create a summary using its large language templates and share it in Team Chat and email without recording the conversation. Hosts receive automatic summaries and can share them with attendees and non-attendees to improve team collaboration and speed up productivity. “By bringing these new features to Zoom IQ, the…

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Shares of the company pared gains to trade 0.7% higher post market hours, after having rallied nearly 5% earlier News 

Zoom raises its full-year revenue and profit forecasts despite the slowdown in growth

On Monday, Zoom Video Communications Inc raised its full-year revenue and earnings forecasts, even though growth is slowing as a result of the pandemic boom and business spending is slowing in a tough economy. The company’s shares were 0.7% higher in after-market hours, after rising nearly 5% earlier. Zoom became a household name during the shutdown, but growth has since cooled as offices reopen and competition heats up from deep-seated rivals such as Microsoft Corp’s Teams, Cisco’s Webex and Salesforce’s Slack. San Jose, Calif.-based Zoom raised its annual revenue forecast…

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While meeting, sometimes you had to step out for a minute, and when you come back you get a long list of messages to catch up on. News 

Zoom is partnering with OpenAI to bring AI-powered features to the platform

Video conferencing platform Zoom has announced a partnership with OpenAI, the creator of AI chatbot ChatGPT, to bring AI-powered features to the platform, such as summarizing chat threads, organizing ideas, creating content for chats, creating meeting agendas and more. its AI-powered Zoom IQ assistant. Zoom has become the latest productivity app to expand the use of artificial intelligence. According to the company, Zoom IQ’s features help users move through their day more easily, for example, if a team member joins their Zoom meeting late, they can ask Zoom IQ to…

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