Microsoft Announces AI Avatar for Teams Meeting

Microsoft has announced the rollout of Avatars for Microsoft Teams, a feature that allows users to create personalized avatars for meetings using Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

This revolutionary update is designed to make virtual meetings more engaging and inclusive by enabling users to customize and represent themselves with an avatar, even with their video cameras turned off. 

Avatars for Microsoft Teams provides users with a customizable digital representation of themselves that can be used during video conferences. 

The avatars can mimic facial expressions and gestures and even adapt to immersive 3D spaces in meetings.

Key Features of Avatars:

• Customizable Appearance: Users can modify skin tone, facial features, hairstyles, and eyewear.
• Outfit Selection: Pick from various wardrobe options to suit your style.
• Expressive 3D Models: When paired with Teams’ immersive spaces, avatars can provide a dynamic presence in meetings.

To create your avatar, users need to install the Avatars app within Microsoft Teams. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting it up:

• Navigate to the Apps tab (identified by the square containing a plus sign) on the Teams sidebar.
• Search for “Avatars” in the app store and select Add.
• For easy access, right-click the app and select Pin.

Create Your Avatar:

• Open the Avatars app and click on + to create a new avatar.
• Use the Create from Photo option for a more personalized experience (currently available for M365 Targeted Release tenants).

• Submit your photo using an image upload or click Use Camera.
• AI will analyze your photo, including facial points like eyes, nose, and mouth, to recommend avatars resembling your features. Hairstyles, facial hair, and eyewear are also considered for fine-tuned results.

Customize:

Adjust body shape, select outfits, and make any other changes before finalizing your avatar.

AI-Powered Biometric Accuracy

The Create from Photo feature leverages machine learning (ML) to analyze key biometric data points in the submitted image, such as: Face shape, Eye, nose, and mouth placement, Hair color and style, Presence of facial hair or brows and  Eyewear details.

However, Microsoft emphasizes that user privacy is a priority. Uploaded photos are not retained, and the data is only used temporarily to create the suggested avatar. No additional predictions are made beyond facial features.

Once your avatar is created, it can be enabled for meetings:

• Join a meeting and turn off your camera.
• Click on Effects and Avatars > Avatars > Select your avatar.
• Your avatar will replace your video feed during the meeting.

This feature is available on desktop apps for Windows and macOS and is view-only on mobile. For an even more immersive meeting experience, participants can enable avatars for 3D spaces in Mesh, Microsoft’s mixed-reality platform.

Text-to-Speech Support

The Avatars app introduces an in-app text-to-speech (TTS) system for enhanced accessibility. Using screen readers like Windows Narrator, users can activate TTS by pressing Ctrl + B when prompted. This ensures that the avatar builder is inclusive for users with visual impairments.

Microsoft stated that the Avatars app requires at least 6GB RAM and a two-core processor for optimal performance. Low-bandwidth conditions might delay avatar rendering or cause flickers.

The company encourages user feedback to shape the evolution of this groundbreaking feature. With AI at its core, Avatars for Teams redefined hybrid collaboration by allowing users to embrace the power of digital transformation while expressing themselves with integrity.

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