AI-FRONTIERMay 20, 20261 min read11 views

A new experiment brings better group meetings to Google Beam

Google has announced a new experiment for Google Beam, aiming to improve hybrid group meetings. By leveraging HP's immersive display and spatial audio, the platform renders remote participants in life-size proportions, making virtual interactions feel incredibly lifelike.

A new experiment brings better group meetings to Google Beam

While video conferencing tools keep us connected, users can still struggle to feel included in the conversation. Trying to read subtle emotions in a sea of tiny boxes may leave remote participants feeling like observers rather than engaged participants. Google Beam, our true-to-life video communication platform, helps you solve this problem by turning your meetings into a more active exchange.

Today, we’re sharing a new experiment that brings better group meetings to Google Beam across more devices. Using HP Dimension’s immersive display, Google Beam renders participants joining from non-Beam devices in their true size, positioned as if they were sitting around a table with you. Paired with spatial audio that anchors each voice directly to the person speaking, colleagues look, sound, and feel more like they are in the same room.

This optimization happens automatically, whether you join a meeting from home or the office. Our research suggests approaches like these help close the hybrid 'inclusion gap' by facilitating a 50% stronger sense of social connection and a 21% increase in reported ability to contribute to conversations.

We’re also continuing to work with Google Workspace and Zoom to help elevate the meetings you have today on Google Beam.

Elevating standard group meetings on Google Beam via Zoom.

An experimental look at remote participants in true-to-life proportions on Google Beam.

An experimental view of a hybrid meeting on Google Beam.

Source: Google AI Blog

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