Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a buzzword in tech circles, promising to revolutionize how we work and interact. But what exactly is AI? Simply put, it's a technology that can learn, adapt, and make decisions, mimicking human intelligence. AI's popularity stems from its potential to automate tasks, provide insights, and enhance user experiences across various industries.

Video conferencing platforms are no exception; they are also jumping on the AI bandwagon to stay competitive and offer more value to users. These platforms are integrating AI to streamline meetings, boost productivity, and create more engaging virtual interactions.

In this landscape, Zoom introduced Zoom AI Companion in September 2023, claiming to enhance its platform, but it's far from the only player in this evolving field. As AI continues to evolve, it's reshaping the virtual communication landscape, offering both opportunities and challenges for users and providers alike.

Let's dive into what Zoom AI Companion brings to the table, its features, limitations, and reviews, and explore alternatives that better suit your needs.

Zoom AI Companion

In September 2023, Zoom AI Companion was introduced as part of the video conferencing platform to integrate artificial intelligence into its communication tools. This addition came during the industry trend of incorporating AI capabilities into productivity and collaboration software.

Formerly known as Zoom IQ, this is a new generative AI assistant that works across the Zoom platform, including Zoom Meetings and Zoom Team Chat.

The AI Companion has features for a better user experience, virtual meetings, and communication. It can compose emails and chat messages, which may save time for users who frequently engage in written communication. It can also assist with whiteboard ideation, offering suggestions and helping to organize thoughts during brainstorming sessions.

Features of Zoom AI:

• Transcription: Generates transcripts and chapter markers for recorded meetings.
• Virtual Backgrounds: AI-powered background removal and replacement without a green screen.
• Noise Suppression: Algorithms to reduce background noise during calls.
• Gesture Recognition: Detects hand gestures to trigger reactions without clicking buttons.
• Brainstorming support: AI Companion can help users generate ideas and brainstorm solutions to problems.
• Auto-framing: Keeps participants centered in the video frame, even when moving.
• Meeting Analytics: Provides insights on participant engagement and meeting effectiveness.
• Language Translation: Real-time translation for multilingual meetings.

Limitations of Zoom AI:

• Privacy Concerns: The use of AI for analyzing meetings raises questions about data privacy and security. Also, last year, Zoom faced a massive backlash after it changed its policies to use users’ calls to train its AI model, breaching privacy. 
• Faulty Decisions: Users have reported that AI Companion cannot accurately identify key decisions or create action items for all meetings. But Feta does.
• Less Intuitive: AI Companion is a constantly running process, so it is distracting to some users to have it running in the background during a meeting because of its less friendly UI.
• Requires high bandwidth: Many AI Companion features require a very stable, high-speed internet connection to function optimally, and users have reported them not working well even when provided with stable internet.
• Limited Customization: Users have said that the AI Companion features are not fully customizable to meet specific organizational needs.
• Learning Curve: Some users find getting accustomed to AI Companion a lot tricky.
• Not Free: AI Companion is only available with a paid Zoom account. Users on the free Zoom plan cannot use this feature.

Learn more about Zoom features and Zoom limitations.

Zoom AI Pricing

Zoom AI features are typically bundled with Zoom's paid plans, which start at $149.90 per year per license for the Pro plan. 

Features to look for in a Zoom AI alternative

When considering alternatives to Zoom AI Companion, there are several key features to look for that can enhance your video conferencing and collaboration experience. Here's a list of important features to consider:

• Real-time Transcription and Summarization: Automatically generates accurate transcripts and concise summaries of meetings as they happen.
• Action Item Extraction: Identifies and compiles key tasks and follow-up points from meeting discussions.
• Intelligent Scheduling: Suggests optimal meeting times by analyzing participants' calendars and preferences.
• Document Analysis: Quickly processes shared documents to provide key insights and summaries during meetings.
• Multilingual Support: Offers real-time translation and interpretation services for international collaboration.
• Personalized Meeting Insights: Provides individual analytics and suggestions to improve communication skills over time.
• Audio-Video Enhancement: Employs advanced algorithms for noise suppression and video quality improvement.
• Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly connects with other productivity tools and platforms for a streamlined workflow.
• Customizable AI Assistance: Allows users to tailor the AI's involvement and features to their specific needs.
• Privacy and Security: Implements robust data protection measures and ensures compliance with privacy regulations.
• Natural Language Q&A: Understands and responds to questions posed in natural language during meetings.
• Sentiment Analysis: Analyzes participant engagement and emotional tone, providing valuable feedback for hosts.

When evaluating these features, consider your specific needs, the size of your team, and the nature of your meetings. The ideal AI companion should enhance your productivity without compromising on ease of use or data security.

Top 10 Zoom AI Alternatives

Now, let's explore some alternatives that offer AI-powered features for virtual meetings and collaboration: Feta, Microsoft Teams with Copilot, Google Meet with Duet AI, Cisco Webex Assistant, RingCentral AI, GoTo Meeting with GoTo Resolve, Dialpad AI, Vowel, Otter.ai, Headroom, Fathom.

1. Feta
2. Microsoft Teams with Copilot
3. Google Meet with Duet AI
4. Cisco Webex Assistant
5. RingCentral AI
6. GoToMeeting with GoTo Resolve
7. Dialpad AI
8. Vowel
9. Otter.ai
10. Fathom

Let’s roll our eyes over all the above alternatives one by one.

Feta

Feta is an AI-native video conferencing tool that automates the entire meeting workflow while maintaining relevant context. Unlike Zoom, which operates in silos, Feta handles pre-and post-meeting activities, including MoM, project management tool updates, building a knowledge library, and more, helping you free up mental space and sharpen your focus.

Key Features:

• AI-Powered Summaries: Capture essential points and action items for quick review and improved team alignment.
• Real-Time Translation and Transcription: Overcome language barriers and foster inclusivity in global teams.
• Integrated Calendars and Agenda Planners: Simplify scheduling and keep meetings focused and on track.
• Deeper Integrations: Seamlessly integrate with tools like Google Workspace, Linear, Slack, and your video conferencing app, optimizing your workflow.
• Interactive Collaboration Tools: Use digital whiteboards and document viewers for dynamic brainstorming and idea sharing.

With Feta, every meeting becomes a productive step toward achieving your team's goals.

Microsoft Teams with Copilot

Microsoft Teams with Copilot integrates AI capabilities into the Teams environment. It offers features like real-time meeting summaries, task automation, and content creation.

Copilot for Microsoft 365 provides features such as AI-powered meeting recaps and action items, smart scheduling and task management, and integration with the Microsoft 365 suite. Limitations include the requirement of a Microsoft 365 subscription. Privacy concerns and a learning curve accompany Copilot's AI-driven workflow, while potential glitches and the high cost affect its adoption. 

The pricing is $30 per user per month, in addition to the existing Microsoft 365 subscription fees.

Google Meet with Duet AI

Google's answer to AI-powered meetings, Duet AI in Google Meet, offers features for productivity and collaboration.

Google's AI meeting assistant is for virtual collaboration with automated note-taking, noise cancellation, and real-time translations. However, the tool's exclusivity to Google Workspace and potential need for premium plans limit its accessibility for some users. 

Duet AI costs $30 per user per month.

Cisco Webex Assistant

Cisco Webex Assistant brings AI capabilities to the Webex platform, focusing on meeting experiences and productivity.

Webex's AI tool brings voice controls, live captions, translations, and auto-transcripts to virtual meetings. However, you might need Webex hardware for the best experience, and some advanced functions are only in higher-tier plans. Its value depends on your team's needs and budget.

Available as part of the Webex suite, with plans starting from $25 per user per month.

RingCentral AI

RingCentral Video's AI Assistant is for virtual meetings and for collaboration within the RingCentral ecosystem.

This AI tool gives automated meeting transcripts, summary generation, and action item extraction.
RingCentral Video's AI Assistant has limitations like restricted language support, customization options, and integration gaps with third-party tools. Users also report privacy concerns, inconsistent performance, and high resource demands.

Its pricing starts at $19 per user per month, billed annually.

GoToMeeting with GoTo Resolve

GoToMeeting's AI, part of the GoTo Resolve suite, focuses on IT support and collaboration.

GoToMeeting with GoTo Resolve offers AI-powered IT ticket resolution, conversational AI for support, and automated meeting scheduling. However, it is primarily focused on IT support, lacks broader AI features compared to competitors, and presents integration challenges and a steep learning curve for non-technical users.

GoTo Resolve pricing starts at $57 per month for one agent.

Dialpad AI

Dialpad AI offers features for voice calls and video meetings, focusing on natural language processing.

Dialpad AI offers features such as real-time transcription, sentiment analysis, automated post-call summaries, and AI-powered coaching for sales calls. However, users have reported accuracy issues with transcriptions, and higher-tier plans can be costly for small businesses. Additionally, the app struggles with nuanced accents and background noise, and its advanced features require substantial setup and training to use effectively.

Dialpad AI features are included in business plans, starting at $15 per user per month and billed annually.

Vowel

Vowel is a relative newcomer with its AI-centric approach to virtual meetings.

Vowel offers features like automated meeting notes and transcripts, AI-generated summaries, and action items. However, it has limited integration with other popular business tools. Being a relatively new platform, it offers fewer features compared to more established competitors and no option to export transcripts or notes. Additionally, users experience frequent bugs and limited support for advanced customization.

Vowel offers a free plan with basic features, with paid plans starting at $16 per user per month.

Otter.ai

While not a full-fledged meeting platform, Otter.ai provides AI-driven transcription and collaboration tools that integrate with meeting software.

Otter.ai offers AI-driven meeting transcription, summaries, and collaborative note-editing. However, it's not a full meeting platform and restricts some features to higher-tier plans. Users encounter accuracy issues with complex audio or accents and face privacy concerns from AI processing. While valuable for capturing spoken content, Otter.ai's text focus misses visual elements, and its performance depends on excellent internet quality.

Otter offers a limited free plan, with paid plans starting at $8.33 per user per month.

Fathom

Fathom is an AI meeting assistant that works alongside your existing video conferencing tools.

Fathom has features like AI-powered note-taking, transcription, and summary generation. It integrates with CRM and project management tools. 

Fathom isn't a standalone video conferencing solution requiring use alongside other platforms. Some users have reported syncing issues between Fathom and their primary meeting tools. Additionally, the AI's effectiveness varies depending on meeting complexity and audio quality. Privacy concerns arise from AI processing of potentially sensitive discussions. Fathom's focus on text-based outputs misses crucial visual information shared during meetings. Lastly, the tool's reliance on third-party integrations leads to potential compatibility issues as other platforms update their systems.

Fathom provides custom pricing based on the number of companies; it starts at $50 per month for one company.

Comparison

Zoom AI Companion Reviews

In recent years, artificial intelligence has become a hot topic in tech, prompting companies to integrate AI into their offerings. The video conferencing sector has seen a surge of AI-powered features aiming to revolutionize online collaboration. This trend reflects the industry's drive to stay competitive and meet user expectations for smarter, more efficient tools. Zoom joined this trend with its AI Companion, aiming to enhance the meeting experience for its users.

However, the reality of AI in video conferencing hasn't always lived up to the hype. Many users have reported several issues with Zoom's AI Companion and similar AI tools from other providers.

Zoom AI Companion users have reported a mix of challenges that reveal the current state of AI in video conferencing. Transcription errors are common, especially with multiple speakers or accents, while meeting summaries often miss key points or emphasize less important details. Some users feel uneasy about AI processing sensitive conversations, and others notice the tool slowing down their Zoom app. The AI struggles with consistent action item extraction and often misses nuanced context in discussions. Non-English meetings pose particular difficulties. There's also concern about over-relying on AI-generated content, potentially reducing active participation. While the AI Companion aims to boost efficiency, many users find themselves investing significant time to learn and double-check its output, sometimes offsetting the intended benefits. 

Moreover, the integration of AI has raised valid concerns about data privacy and security. Users are increasingly wary about how their meeting data is being processed and stored and whether sensitive information could be at risk.

With this article, we tried to enlighten you about Zoom AI Companion and the best possible alternatives to it. It can help you make an informed decision about which one fits your needs.

Host Better Meetings with Feta

The shift to remote work has made online meetings a daily necessity, but they often come with their own set of challenges. Many current video conferencing platforms fall short, featuring uninspired designs, disruptive updates, and integration difficulties. Their AI features frequently underwhelm, failing to live up to the hype. A significant, often overlooked issue is the lack of seamless integration with other work applications. This creates a fragmented digital workspace, forcing users to constantly switch between platforms and disrupting their workflow. The result is inefficiency and frustration as people struggle to maintain a cohesive work process across various tools. These subtle but impactful problems are the ones we've identified and aimed to address.

That's why we're building Feta—an AI-native video conferencing tool designed to automate the entire meeting workflow while preserving relevant context. Plus, with a sleek, modern UI/UX that you'd expect in 2024.

This app includes features such as precise AI-generated smart summaries, action items, real-time transcripts, translations, auto-tagged discussions, task management, a searchable knowledge library, and more.

We are now rolling out early access to Feta every day to limited users, so in case you are interested - just let us know :)