In a world where time is a precious commodity, Google Meet has released an AI feature that could change the way we handle meetings. "Duet," is Google's latest addition to its arsenal of productivity tools, designed to make your workday more efficient and seamless.

Duet's Multitasking

Imagine a scenario where you find yourself caught between back-to-back meetings, deadlines looming, and no time to spare. This is where Duet steps in as your trusty virtual assistant. With Duet, you can delegate the task of attending a meeting on your behalf, allowing you to focus on other pressing matters.

Real-Time Note-Taking

Duet's primary function is to assist you in recalling and summarizing crucial information from your Google Meet calls. It can take real-time notes during meetings, capturing essential points and action items as the discussion unfolds. If you happen to be late to a meeting, Duet will provide you with a mid-meeting summary, ensuring you're up to speed with the ongoing conversation.

During the call itself, you can engage in private discussions with a Google chatbot to fill in the gaps caused by your tardiness. Once the meeting concludes, you can save the comprehensive summary to Google Docs, even including video clips of pivotal moments for later reference.

Trust in Accuracy

While the potential of Duet is undeniably exciting, the accuracy of its recaps remains a vital concern. AI's propensity for errors is a well-known fact, and Google acknowledges the need to gain users' trust in this regard. Testing will be crucial to determine if Duet can consistently capture the essence of a meeting.

AI-Enabled Meeting Assistance

Microsoft and Zoom have also ventured into AI-powered meeting summaries, highlighting the industry's growing interest in such features. Google's Duet, however, stands out with its unique "attend for me" capability. By clicking a button on a meeting invite, Duet generates discussion notes that other attendees can refer to during the meeting. This feature aims to save time and enhance communication but raises questions about potential misuse.

The Future of Google Meet

Google has taken significant steps to transform Google Meet into a premier video conferencing platform. According to Dave Citron, Google's senior director of product for Meet, the company is committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation. The introduction of AI into Meet represents a new era, where large language models and diffusion models play a pivotal role.

To alleviate the fatigue associated with video conferencing, Google is also introducing dynamic layouts that adapt to the number and location of meeting participants. This innovation aims to provide a more natural and engaging meeting experience.

A Tall Order for AI

Google's relentless pursuit of making meetings feel as seamless as in-person interactions is commendable. However, the challenge lies in creating a universally accessible and reliable meeting experience, regardless of circumstances. The integration of AI in Google Meet may hold the key to achieving this lofty goal, even if it means fewer video conferences in the long run.

As Google continues to innovate and refine its video conferencing platform, the future of work meetings looks promising, offering a more efficient and productive way to connect and collaborate.

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Google Meet’s new AI will be able to go to meetings for you
For when you’re thinking, “This meeting could have been an AI summary.”
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