In the initial release wave of April 2024, Microsoft Teams is rolling out thrilling AI-driven functionalities aimed at boosting productivity and collaboration. Let’s explore these enhancements in depth:

Meeting Experience Enhanced

Based on customer feedback, in May, Microsoft is enhancing the Copilot in meeting experience. Copilot in meetings will now provide information and insights from the meeting chat in addition to the meeting transcript. When you open Copilot in the meeting chat, you will have a more comprehensive and inclusive view of what was covered in the meeting, whether it was spoken (transcript) or written (chat).

• Intelligent summaries – These summaries distill key discussion points, action items, and follow-up tasks, enabling participants to stay organized and focused long after the meeting concludes.
• Personalized suggestions for meeting agendas and follow-up actions – Excitingly, AI is also driving personalized suggestions for meeting agendas and follow-up actions based on past interactions and user preferences. This tailored approach optimizes meeting agendas and outcomes, ensuring maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
• AI-powered transcription and translation functionalities during meetings – Real-time transcription ensures that every spoken word is accurately captured, while automatic translation breaks down language barriers, making collaboration more inclusive and accessible across diverse teams.
• Automatic Camera Switching for IntelliFrame – In meetings with laptop cameras, in-room attendees ensure remote participants can see them clearly, even in crowded spaces. Cloud AI identifies the best view of each participant from available video sources like Teams cameras and laptops. IntelliFrame displays these views on the meeting stage, switching to laptop feeds if needed. It also switches to personal laptop feeds when an in-room attendee addresses remote participants directly, fostering more engaging interactions.
• Speaker Recognition Capabilities – Starting in April, speaker recognition capabilities will be available in public preview for Teams Rooms on Windows, even for those without intelligent speakers. This feature allows for convenient verification and personalization of speakers based on their unique voice characteristics, enhancing meeting experiences for both in-room and remote participants.
• Voice Isolation for Noisy Environments – This function provides voice isolation capabilities in Microsoft Teams during meetings and calls. It leverages advanced AI algorithms to filter out unwanted background noise, including other people’s voices. By creating a personalized voice profile, users can confidently keep their microphones unmuted, ensuring clear communication even in noisy environments. This feature enhances call quality and minimizes distractions for both in-room and remote participants. Voice Isolation will be generally available in April 2024.
• Windows Autopilot for Teams Rooms – This feature simplifies the setup process for new Teams Rooms on Windows devices and consists of two key components:
  1. Zero-Touch Provisioning of New Rooms: utilizes Windows Autopilot through Intune and Auto-sign-in technologies, enabling remote deployment and recovery with no physical intervention. A Teams Rooms Pro license is required for this feature.
  2. New Teams App Integration: The reimagined Teams app, now part of Teams Rooms on Windows, delivers up to two times faster performance and uses 50 percent less memory.

Making collaboration smarter

The integration of Sales Copilot with Copilot in Teams empowers teams to have more informed discussions, streamlining decision-making and contributing to improved sales performance within the Teams ecosystem.

1. Copilot in Teams chat compose box – In April, the Copilot feature in the Teams chat compose box allows you to request customized adjustments to your messages. For instance, Copilot can add a call to action or even give your message a playful pirate flair. Additionally, soon you’ll be able to generate a new message with just a few words typed in Teams chat, saving you time and making message creation more effortless and adaptable. This feature is comprised of two components:
   1. Custom Rewriting: In April, Copilot can adjust your message and provide a custom rewritten version.
   2. Prompt-Based Messaging: Soon, you’ll be able to generate new messages by typing just a few words in Teams chat, saving time and allowing easy adaptation and editing.
2. Intelligent Call Recap – summarizes important points and action items from calls. AI-powered insights are provided and recaps of VoIP and PSTN calls. This feature requires a Teams Premium license.

By harnessing the potential of AI, Microsoft Teams is poised to redefine collaboration dynamics. These innovative enhancements not only propel efficiency and inclusivity but also create a more productive work environment for teams worldwide, revolutionizing the way we work and communicate.

AI Generated Insights

The seamless integration of AI-generated insights directly into the Teams interface empowers users to access pertinent information and resources effortlessly, eliminating the need to switch between platforms and significantly saving time.

Copilot in Meetings provides information and insights from both the meeting chat and the meeting transcript.