What do you think of when you think of Zoom? That's right - virtual meetings, conferences, and webinars. But that could soon change! Because Zoom wants to be more than just a video conferencing solution. With the launch of Zoom Docs, the software company now wants to compete with the giants Microsoft and Google.
What is Zoom Docs?
Zoom Docs is a cloud-based document editing platform developed by Zoom Video Communications and launched at this year's Zoomtopia. It allows users to collaborate on documents in real time and create, edit, and share documents online. Zoom Docs is an extension of the Zoom family of products.
With Zoom Docs, users can create and edit text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations directly in the cloud. Users can work on the same documents, make changes, and add comments in real time—even during a video conference—making it easier for team members to collaborate. Users can access previous versions and track changes. Once created, documents are stored directly in the cloud for anytime, anywhere access.
The benefits of Zoom Docs
- simultaneous, real-time document editing by multiple users
- integrate with Zoom Meetings and Team Chats
- securely store documents in the cloud
- built-in security features such as access control and encryption
- store document revision history
- intuitive user interface
- collaboration features like comments and discussions
- integration with other third-party tools
Another advantage that was also presented as a novelty at Zoomtopia is its AI Companion.
Zoom's AI Companion
Like many of its competitors, Zoom is introducing its own generative AI: Zoom AI Companion.
AI Companion empowers individuals by helping them be more productive, connect and collaborate with teammates, and improve their skills. (Source: Zoom)
What exactly does this mean? Zoom AI Companion will be available to paying Zoom subscribers at no additional cost. Zoom's first AI features, known until recently as Zoom IQ, were launched in June 2023 on a free trial basis for select customers. These features are Team Chat Compose and Meeting Summary. They're designed to provide more efficient ways to participate in and follow up on meetings.
Zoom says they'll gradually roll out a significant expansion of updated AI features in the coming months. AI Companion will be available across the Zoom platform, starting with Meetings, Team Chat, Phone, Email, and Whiteboard. The company has more features on its roadmap, but no specific timelines have been announced.
In addition to the features introduced in June, AI Companion now offers a number of new features. AI Companion can quickly notify users about Zoom Meetings. Someone who's late for the meeting—or perhaps distracted by a doorbell—can use a side panel to ask AI Companion questions about how the meeting is going.
After the meeting, users can view a recording of the Zoom meeting and quickly access the information they need with meeting highlights, smart chapters, and AI-generated summaries, if the meeting host has enabled these features.
By mid-2024, Zoom aims to provide real-time feedback on presenter performance and automated coaching on speaking and presentation skills.
Zoom Docs vs. Google Docs vs. Microsoft Word
Zoom Docs, Microsoft Word, and Google Docs have some similarities, but they also have many differences. The extent to which Zoom Docs is similar or different from these two applications can only be definitively determined after its successful release. Here are some similarities and differences that we know of now:
| Microsoft Word | Google Docs | Zoom Docs | |
| Features & functions | Document creation and editing | Document creation and editing | Document creation and editing |
| Availability | Browser or desktop app | Browser only | Browser only |
| Internet connection required | No (if using desktop app) | Yes | Yes |
| Cost | One-time purchase or monthly subscription | Free of charge | Not yet known |
| Location | Cloud or on-premise | Cloud | Cloud |
| Real-time collaboration | Real-time collaboration via OneDrive only | Seamless real-time collaboration | Seamless real-time collaboration |
Zoom hasn't announced a concrete release date for Zoom Docs yet. They're only talking about 2024 so far. We'll probably hear new information early next year.
Conclusion
In summary, while the introduction of Zoom Docs and AI Companion has expanded Zoom's capabilities beyond video conferencing, it's unlikely that Zoom has reinvented the wheel. We expect that Zoom Docs will function similarly to Google Docs.
Zoom's AI Companion reminds us of Microsoft 365 Copilot and Google's Duet AI, a competing product unveiled last April.
Until the official release of Zoom, users can utilize the various functionalities of Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
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