Google Meet to Soon Let Users Enhance Their Meetings With AI-generated Backgrounds

As companies continue to explore innovative applications of generative AI, the integration of this technology into various platforms is becoming increasingly exciting. Google, after experiencing both successes and challenges with its AI chatbot, Bard, has now introduced generative AI to Google Meet, allowing users to create custom backgrounds, marking another fascinating development in the AI landscape.

Google Meet users can now input specific prompts to request custom images for their videoconference backgrounds. Google’s generative AI will generate the desired background, enhancing the video conferencing experience.

Currently, this exciting new feature is exclusively accessible to Google’s trusted set of testers participating in the Workspace Labs program. However, it may be extended to a broader audience in the future.

Google Meet is starting to roll out AI background image support.

"On Google Meet, you can use the “Generate a background” prompt to create background images using artificial intelligence. For example, you can ask Google Meet to create an illustration of a magical forest."
— Artem Russakovskii (@ArtemR) July 18, 2023

The support document for this feature is available publicly, allowing interested users to gain insights into its functionality and potential benefits. As of now, AI-generated backgrounds are limited to desktop usage, and users can effortlessly create them by selecting a meeting and clicking “Apply visual effects” at the bottom right of their Meet self-view. For Workspace Labs testers, an additional option titled “Generate a background” will be visible.

Users can input a text prompt and choose from various styles, including fantasy, photography, illustration, and more. For instance, Google demonstrated the “fantasy” style with the prompt “an illustration of a magical forest,” and the resulting image can be seen in the provided image below.

According to Google, it’s essential to exercise caution when using Workspace Labs features as they may occasionally suggest inaccurate or inappropriate information. Additionally, Google emphasizes that the generated images are intended for use exclusively within Google Meet.

Currently, there is no official announcement regarding the timeline for the broader availability of AI-based background generation for Google Meet.