Zoom introduces AI-powered collaborative tool Zoom Docs

Zoom has announced the launch of Zoom Docs, a next-generation collaborative document solution to enhance team collaboration across the Zoom Workplace platform. The new feature, powered by AI Companion, aims to optimise workflows and streamline meeting documentation.

Smita Hashim, Chief Product Officer at Zoom, remarked, "Zoom Docs is our first Zoom Workplace product with generative AI built in from the ground up; it effortlessly transforms information from Zoom Meetings into actionable documents and knowledge bases so that teams can stay focused on meaningful work." Zoom Docs will be available to users with paid Zoom Workplace licenses without additional cost.

Zoom Docs aims to address common challenges in modern workplaces, such as repetitive tasks and information overload. The new solution can generate meeting summaries by leveraging AI Companion, transforming meeting content into well-organised documents. Templates for various meeting types, including one-on-one sessions, stand-up meetings, and brainstorming sessions, are also included.

In addition to creating meeting summaries, Zoom Docs allows users to schedule and start meetings directly from within a document. This feature reduces the need to switch between different applications and helps to keep collaboration within a single platform. It also supports real-time co-editing, with up to 100 users able to edit a document concurrently.

Zoom Docs integrates smoothly with other features of Zoom Workplace, such as Team Chat and Whiteboard. Documents can be shared within chat channels, and users can embed whiteboards directly into their documents. This makes it easier to centralise information and maintain a single source of truth for project updates and team discussions.

Zoom Docs also comes with enhanced permission management functionalities. Users can set bulk permissions for document access during meetings, minimise the time spent granting access, and even provide temporary access for meeting attendees. Documents can be shared via Zoom Team Chat or Zoom Mail, enabling seamless collaboration across the organisation.

Addressing the increased complexity of project planning, Zoom Docs includes templates for project briefs, status updates, and progress tracking. Hashim highlighted that Zoom Docs is designed to "empower people to work happy and give them more time back in their day."

AI Companion in Zoom Docs simplifies the content creation process across different types of documents. Users can generate, revise, and summarise content, transforming meeting transcripts into easily editable documents. Furthermore, AI Companion supports content translation into nine languages, making it accessible for multilingual teams.

To keep collaboration fluid and organised, Zoom Docs includes various content blocks for text, tables, images, and charts. Users can also embed third-party content from services like Google Drive, Figma, and YouTube. This integration ensures that information is easily accessible and well-organised within a single platform.

To reduce silos, Zoom Docs allows collaborators to track activities, due dates, and assignments using tables, checklists, and trackers. The tool offers multiple views like Kanban boards, calendars, and galleries to provide a comprehensive overview of project progress.

Zoom Docs is part of the broader Zoom Workplace suite and works with all paid plans, with some limitations for free-tier users. Zoom's rollout of Zoom Docs follows other recent announcements, including the beta launch of a no-code Workflow Automation tool to boost workplace efficiency.