The Dawn of the Delegate: AI Avatars Set to Invade Your Meetings by Year's End Imagine a world where you can skip yet another intermina...

The Dawn of the Delegate: AI Avatars Set to Invade Your Meetings by Year's End

Imagine a world where you can skip yet another interminable meeting, yet still have your voice heard, your questions answered, and your contributions made. A world where your workload is lightened, not by cutting corners, but by leveraging the power of cutting-edge technology. This world, according to Sam Liang, CEO of the AI-powered meeting transcription and note-taking company Otter.ai, could be a reality as soon as this year.

Liang has a bold vision:

The development of AI avatars capable of acting as our intelligent delegates in meetings. These digital doppelgangers wouldn't simply be passive observers. They will learn how to speak, listen, solve problems, and even ask questions while mimicking the unique mannerisms and styles of humans.

This ambitious project draws on Liang's own experiences in the often overwhelming world of encounters. “As someone who attends at least 10 meetings a day, I often wish I had more hours in the day. The idea for AI Avatar came from the need for a time-saving solution. At the same time, it ensures our presence and participation in important discussions.”

So how do these AI avatars work? The answer lies in the power of machine learning. Avatars would be trained on a vast dataset, including voice recordings, meeting notes, and other relevant information specific to the individual they represent. This allows them to develop a nuanced understanding of the person's communication style, thought process, and expertise.

During a meeting, the AI avatar would be able to actively participate, responding to prompts, answering questions, and even contributing their own insights based on the pre-trained knowledge base. If the situation arises where the avatar encounters unfamiliar territory, it would be able to flag the issue, potentially offering paraphrased responses or seeking clarification from the human it represents.

Liang envisions this technology impacting various aspects of the professional world. Avatars can attend routine meetings, status updates, and customer service calls, freeing up human time for more creative and strategic efforts. It can also be a valuable asset to geographically dispersed teams, facilitating seamless collaboration across time zones and locations.

But Liang acknowledges there are challenges ahead. Ethical considerations, potential bias in training data, and the need to trust the technology are all important aspects to consider. Ensuring that AI avatars are used ethically and responsibly is paramount to their successful integration into our daily lives. It remains to be seen whether AI avatars will be a welcome addition to our profession or a technological Pandora's box. But the possibilities of this technology make us think about the future of work and the evolving role of human interaction in an increasingly technological world. One thing is certain. The way we meet and work is poised for another big change, and 2024 could be the dawn of delegations where digital colleagues join the table and the lines between reality and conference representation are blurred. room.