Zoom introduces its AI assistant on the web, now available to users with free accounts

Zoom Expands AI Companion Features to Web and Free Users

Zoom has introduced its AI Companion 3.0 to the web, making its intelligent assistant accessible to a wider audience. Notably, users on the free plan can now take advantage of several AI-powered tools, including meeting summaries, action item lists, and insights, though with certain usage restrictions.

According to Zoom, individuals on the basic plan are permitted to utilize the AI companion in up to three meetings each month. For each of these sessions, users receive features like automated meeting summaries, real-time question answering, and AI-driven note-taking. Additionally, they can submit up to 20 questions via both the side panel and the newly launched web interface. For those seeking more extensive access, a $10 add-on is available to unlock additional AI companion capabilities.

To help users get started, Zoom’s new web interface now includes conversation starter prompts that showcase the assistant’s range of functions.

With this latest update, the AI Companion can also pull information from external platforms such as Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, in addition to all data stored within Zoom. The company has announced plans to soon integrate Gmail and Microsoft Outlook as further data sources.

Image Credits: Zoom

The assistant now provides a daily overview, summarizing meetings, tasks, and updates. It can also generate follow-up tasks and draft emails, streamlining post-meeting workflows.

Enhanced Document Management and Collaboration

Zoom is rolling out new tools for document creation and editing. With the updated companion, users can begin drafting and revising documents directly from meeting content. Projects can be initiated within the companion interface and then moved to Zoom Docs for collaborative editing with colleagues. Supported export formats include Markdown, PDF, Microsoft Word, and Zoom Docs.

Image Credits: Zoom

Zoom’s AI Strategy and Competitive Edge

Lijuan Qin, Zoom’s head of AI product, emphasized that Zoom operates independently and leverages its unique access to contextual meeting data, giving it a competitive advantage in the productivity market. The company employs a combination of proprietary AI models as well as technology from OpenAI and Anthropic.

Since its founding by CEO Eric Yuan, Zoom has become a staple for virtual meetings, especially during the pandemic. The company now competes with major productivity platforms like Google, Microsoft, ClickUp, and Notion, all of which are striving to integrate deeper contextual understanding of user data, including meetings.

Earlier this year, Zoom introduced a cross-platform notetaking tool compatible with various meeting applications and even offline meetings, further strengthening its position among productivity solutions.