Microsoft has unveiled plans to roll out 3D avatars for all Microsoft Teams users beginning in May, as stated in an update to its Microsoft 365 roadmap. This innovative feature was initially introduced by the tech giant in 2021 and has undergone a rigorous testing phase in recent months. The move to provide 3D avatars to all Microsoft Teams users marks a significant step towards enhancing the virtual communication experience for the platform’s global user base.
The avatars are specifically intended to provide users with an alternative to appearing on camera during meetings, granting them greater control over their virtual presence. Whether feeling camera-shy or simply in need of a break from the constant demands of video conferencing, users can now opt to substitute their image with a dynamic 3D avatar that can be controlled solely by their vocal cues, entirely eliminating the need for a camera.
This novel addition will offer Microsoft Teams users a new level of flexibility and customisation in their virtual communication, enhancing the platform’s appeal and utility for a broad range of professionals.
Katie Kelly, the principal product manager for Microsoft Mesh, told The Verge in 2021 the platform offers a non-binary approach to online presence. She stated that users can choose how they want to present themselves, whether through video or an avatar, and that there are various customisable options available to them. She also mentioned that Microsoft Mesh is capable of interpreting vocal cues to animate avatars, giving the impression that they are present and engaged in meetings.
Microsoft Mesh is one of the company’s latest innovations in its ecosystem of MR solutions. Experts in the company believe that blending the real and virtual worlds through mixed reality could be the key to enabling better teamwork. This demand for a mixture of virtual and real-life connections became increasingly obvious in 2020, when the pandemic pushed teams apart.
Microsoft Mesh promises to give us the best of both worlds (virtual and real). Within a holographic space, users can interact with different people and content in a shared and safe environment.
The company has announced its intention to employ these avatars in its forthcoming immersive 3D meetings, developed in partnership with Meta, and to be deployed on VR headsets. The company is currently creating a Teams client for Meta Quest headsets, which will enable users to host meetings in virtual reality, utilising 3D avatars with advanced features such as floating emoji and animated hand-raising.
Microsoft recently launched a premium Teams messaging offering powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Teams Premium, which currently has a special introductory price of $7 per month, will bring the latest technologies, including Large Language Models powered by OpenAI’s GPT-3.5, to make meetings more intelligent, personalised, and protected.
With the release of Microsoft Teams Premium, the software giant has introduced an Intelligent Recap feature, which users can take advantage of, to take automatic meeting notes, get task suggestions, and design custom meeting templates.
