Problem Statement / Motivation

Zoom is a leading virtual meeting platform, but users frequently encounter challenges with:

1. Poor Audio & Video Quality
   
   • Background noise (typing, barking, street sounds) disrupts communication.
   • Low-light conditions and blurry video affect visibility.
   • Virtual backgrounds often glitch, reducing professionalism.
2. Lack of Meeting Structure & Engagement
   
   • Large meetings become chaotic with people talking over each other.
   • Attendees lose focus, leading to disengagement.
   • Meetings often lack clear action items, making follow-ups inefficient.

Problem statement:
How might we enhance Zoom meetings with AI-driven noise suppression, video clarity, and a smart moderator to create a distraction-free, engaging, and structured virtual meeting experience?

Goals & Non-Goals

Goals

• Enhance audio and video quality in Zoom meetings using AI-powered noise suppression and video enhancement.
• Ensure structured and engaging meetings by introducing an AI-powered Smart Meeting Moderator.
• Reduce meeting disruptions caused by background noise, poor video quality, and overlapping speech.
• Increase user engagement by prompting quieter participants and keeping discussions on track.
• Improve meeting productivity by providing AI-generated action items and summaries.
• Drive adoption of AI-powered Zoom features to improve user satisfaction and retention.

Non-Goals

• AI will not replace human moderators – It will assist but not fully automate meeting facilitation.
• This feature will not enhance transcription or summarization capabilities – Zoom already has AI-driven summaries.
• No direct impact on Zoom’s video conferencing infrastructure – This is an enhancement, not a redesign.
• Does not introduce new monetization strategies – This feature is focused on user experience rather than revenue generation.

User Stories / Use Cases

Persona: Remote Workers & Professionals

User Story #1: As a remote worker in a noisy home environment, I want Zoom to automatically filter background noise so my colleagues can hear me clearly without distractions.
User Story #2: As a professional who often works in dimly lit spaces, I want Zoom to enhance my video quality so that I appear clear and professional during meetings.

Persona: Meeting Hosts & Facilitators

User Story #3: As a meeting host, I want AI to manage speaker turn-taking in large meetings so that discussions remain structured and no one talks over others.
User Story #4: As a facilitator, I want AI to track engagement and nudge participants who haven’t spoken so that all voices are heard.

‍

Customers and Business Impact

Customer Impact

The AI feature enhancement in Zoom will greatly improve the user experience by ensuring crystal-clear audio and better video visibility, reducing distractions caused by background noise and poor lighting. Users will spend less time troubleshooting technical issues and more time focusing on discussions, while AI-powered speaker queueing will create a structured conversation flow by preventing people from talking over each other. Additionally, AI nudges will encourage quieter participants to engage, fostering a more inclusive meeting environment. Automated follow-ups with AI-generated action items will eliminate the need for manual note-taking, ensuring that key takeaways are not lost and making meetings more efficient.

Business Impact

From a business perspective, this feature will drive significant benefits for Zoom by enhancing user satisfaction, engagement, and adoption. Reduced complaints about poor audio and video quality will lead to improved NPS and CSAT scores, strengthening customer loyalty. AI-powered meeting enhancements will position Zoom as a leader in the market, setting it apart from competitors like Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Webex. Large enterprises and remote teams will particularly value AI-powered moderation and noise filtering, driving increased Business and Enterprise subscriptions. IT administrators will gain better control and analytics on meeting engagement, making Zoom a preferred tool for enterprise use. Additionally, usage analytics will provide insights into AI feature adoption, the types of meetings that benefit most from AI, and how engagement patterns evolve with AI interventions. In the long run, Zoom could introduce advanced AI moderation tools as part of premium paid plans, unlocking new monetization opportunities.

‍

Solutions & Alternatives

Primary Solution: AI-Powered Noise & Video Enhancement 

Our proposed solution leverages AI to automatically enhance audio, video, and meeting flow in real-time.

🔹 AI Noise Filtering → Removes background noise dynamically.
🔹 AI Video Enhancement → Improves low-light and blurry video.

These features require no manual setup, work seamlessly in real-time, and enhance the overall Zoom experience without disrupting workflow.

Alternative Solutions Considered (and Why They Fall Short)

Alternative 1: Manual Noise Suppression & Video Settings

A potential alternative is enhancing manual settings for noise suppression and video adjustments, allowing users to fine-tune their experience.

 Why this doesn’t fully solve the problem:

1. Users may not be tech-savvy enough to manually adjust settings effectively.
2. Manual tuning is time-consuming, especially in fast-paced meetings.
3. Not adaptive—what works for one meeting may not work for another.

 Alternative 2: Third-Party Plugins for Audio & Video Enhancement

Zoom could integrate third-party AI noise filtering tools (e.g., Krisp) and video enhancement tools (e.g., NVIDIA Broadcast) instead of building in-house AI capabilities.

 Why this isn’t ideal:

1. Additional cost—third-party solutions often require extra licenses.
2. Lack of seamless experience—users may need separate downloads or setups.
3. Privacy concerns—data may be sent to third-party services.

Why the AI-Powered Solution is the Best Choice

✔ No manual setup required → Works instantly and seamlessly in any meeting.
✔ Scalable → AI can moderate hundreds of participants without fatigue.
✔ Enhances both audio/video + engagement → Unlike alternatives that focus on only one aspect.

Proposed Solution

AI-Powered Meeting Enhancements: Smarter, More Engaging Zoom Meetings

Many professionals and businesses rely on Zoom for virtual meetings, but common issues like background noise, poor video quality, and chaotic discussions lead to frustration, disengagement, and productivity loss. Zoom already integrates AI into its transcription and summarization features, but real-time meeting enhancements remain an opportunity for innovation.

This solution proposes AI-powered real-time enhancements for noise suppression, video clarity, and meeting moderation, ensuring smoother, more structured, and engaging meetings.

‍

AI-Powered Noise & Video Enhancement

Users frequently struggle with background noise (typing, barking, traffic sounds) and poor lighting/blurry video, impacting professionalism and comprehension.

How It Works:

✔ AI Noise Suppression: Dynamically removes background distractions while preserving human speech clarity.
✔ AI Video Enhancement: Uses deep learning models to automatically adjust brightness, sharpness, and background stabilization.
✔ Real-Time Feedback & Customization: Users receive live indicators (e.g., "Background noise reduced"), and customize AI settings for personalized control.

Example Use Case:
A user joins a meeting from a noisy café—AI filters out background noise, ensuring only their voice is heard. Another user joins from a dimly lit room—AI brightens their video so they appear clearly without manual adjustments.

Why This Solution is a Game-Changer for Zoom Users

Removes Friction in Meetings – No more audio/video troubleshooting before every call. Enhances Engagement & Inclusivity – Ensures every voice is heard in structured discussions.
Boosts Productivity – AI-generated summaries and action items reduce follow-up time.
Seamless & Effortless – Works automatically in real-time, requiring zero manual effort.
Enterprise-Ready – Scales easily for large organizations, reducing the need for human moderators.

User Experience

Experience 1: First-Time Use of AI-Powered Noise & Video Enhancement

A Zoom user joins a virtual meeting and notices a new AI-powered enhancement prompt offering better audio and video quality.

• Upon joining the meeting, they see a pop-up notification introducing AI-powered noise suppression and video enhancement.
• The notification includes a quick demo showing how it improves audio clarity and video sharpness.
• The user clicks "Enable AI Enhancements", and immediately background noise disappears, and their video lighting adjusts to look clearer.
• They see a small AI indicator in the toolbar, confirming that the features are active.
• Mid-meeting, they receive real-time feedback: "Your background noise was reduced for better clarity."
• They continue the meeting without distractions, appreciating the seamless automatic improvements.

Experience 2: User Customizes AI Enhancement Settings

A power user wants more control over their audio and video settings.

• They navigate to Zoom settings and find a new section: "AI-Powered Enhancements."
• The interface includes toggle options for:
  Noise Suppression Levels (Low, Medium, High)
  Video Enhancement (Auto Adjust, Manual Brightness/Sharpness)
• The user selects "High Noise Suppression" since they work in a noisy environment.
• They turn on "Auto Video Enhancement" but adjust brightness manually.
• They join their next meeting and immediately notice a difference—their voice is crystal clear, and their video looks professionally lit.

‍

Experience 3: AI-Generated Action Items & Meeting Summary

At the end of a strategy meeting, the host wants to ensure clear next steps.

• The host enables AI Meeting Summary by clicking "Generate Summary."
• The AI quickly highlights key discussion points and suggests action items, such as:
  "John to follow up on budget approval."

 "Design team to finalize the UI prototype by next week."

• The AI allows the host to review and edit the summary before sharing.
• The host clicks "Send Summary", and all participants receive a chat/email recap.

Experience 4: AI-Driven Meeting Analytics & Enterprise Adoption

An IT administrator at a large enterprise wants to understand how AI is improving meetings.

• They access the Zoom Admin Dashboard and navigate to the AI Analytics section.
• They see:
  Noise Suppression Usage: 80% of meetings had AI noise filtering enabled.
  Engagement Insights: AI nudges increased speaker participation by 25%.
  The admin enables AI features by default for all company meetings and sets custom AI settings (e.g., high noise suppression in large meetings).

USER FLOW

‍

You can find below a link to the user flow  LUCID CHART

‍

WIREFRAME

‍

‍

High Fidelity Mockup:

MOCKUP

‍

Prototype: PROTOTYPE

‍

Requirement

Functional Requirement

No

Requirement

Priority

1

Allow AI to automatically filter background noise in real-time

P0

2

Allow AI to enhance video quality by improving brightness, sharpness, and background stabilization

P0

3

Enable real-time customization of AI noise and video enhancements (e.g., toggle settings, adjust intensity)

P1

4

AI should detect when multiple people speak at once and suggest a structured turn-taking queue

P0

5

AI should analyze participant engagement and nudge quieter attendees to contribute

P1

6

Provide real-time alerts for meeting flow management (e.g., "10 minutes left")

P2

7

Generate AI-powered meeting summaries with key discussion points

P1

8

Automatically identify and suggest action items based on the meeting conversation

P1

9

Allow hosts to enable/disable AI moderation features per meeting

P1

10

Provide post-meeting analytics on engagement, talk-time distribution, and AI intervention effectiveness

P2

11

Allow IT admins to manage AI enhancement settings across an organization

P2

12

AI should detect background distractions and suggest user adjustments (e.g., "Consider using headphones")

P3

13

Enable integration with third-party productivity tools (e.g., Asana, Notion) for action item tracking

P3

14

Support voice-based AI interaction for meeting moderation (e.g., "AI, summarize this meeting")

P3

‍

FAQ

How will users be onboarded to this new AI feature?

Users will be introduced to the AI enhancements via:
✔ In-app notifications prompting them to try AI-powered noise suppression and video enhancement.
✔ A guided tour the first time they join a meeting with AI features enabled.
✔ Admin-controlled rollout for enterprise users, allowing IT teams to enable AI features for their organizations.

How will this feature drive user adoption and engagement?

We expect that the “wow factor” of AI-powered noise suppression, video clarity, and smart moderation will encourage users to enable the feature. Additionally, improved meeting efficiency and structure will drive continued usage, particularly for professionals and enterprises.

How will this feature drive revenue for Zoom?

✔ Improves retention by enhancing the overall Zoom experience, reducing churn.
✔ Increases enterprise adoption as organizations look for AI-powered tools to streamline meetings.
✔ Potential monetization through tiered AI features (e.g., advanced moderation tools in premium plans).

Can users customize AI enhancements to fit their needs?

Yes. Users can:
✔ Toggle AI noise suppression and video enhancement on or off.
✔ Adjust the intensity of noise filtering and video adjustments.
✔ Enable or disable AI meeting moderation depending on their preference.

‍

Will AI-generated meeting summaries replace Zoom’s existing transcription service?

No. AI-generated summaries complement the transcription service by highlighting key discussion points and action items, rather than providing a full verbatim transcript.

How do we prevent the AI moderator from making incorrect engagement nudges?

✔ The AI is trained to detect natural pauses and sentiment cues, ensuring it only nudges when necessary.
✔ Users can provide feedback to improve AI suggestions over time.
✔ Admins can configure AI moderation sensitivity for their organization.

How do we ensure this AI feature is not abused?

✔ AI-driven moderation will follow strict ethical guidelines to ensure fairness and inclusivity.
✔ AI nudges and summaries will be fully transparent, with users able to review AI-generated content before sharing.
✔ Zoom will continuously refine AI models based on user feedback to prevent misuse.

How do we optimize AI costs while maintaining performance?

✔ We will balance large and small language models (LLMs & SLMs) to minimize server costs.
✔ Edge AI processing (running some AI models on-device) will reduce cloud computation expenses.
✔ AI-powered enhancements will be optional, so they only consume resources when enabled.

How will we measure the success of these AI features?

✔ Adoption Rate – % of users enabling AI features.
✔ Engagement Metrics – Increased talk-time balance and reduced interruptions in moderated meetings.
✔ User Feedback – CSAT and NPS scores indicating meeting quality improvement.
✔ Enterprise Adoption – Increased deployment of AI features in business accounts.

How do Zoom’s AI features affect performance in low-connectivity situations? Will they make poor audio and video quality worse?

 No, Zoom’s AI features are designed to enhance, not worsen, the user experience, even in low-connectivity situations. Many audio and video issues stem from poor internet connections, but AI-powered enhancements, such as noise suppression, video clarity adjustments, and adaptive bitrate streaming, work to mitigate these effects. Instead of adding strain, these features optimize performance by dynamically adjusting based on network conditions, ensuring clearer communication even when bandwidth is limited.

‍

Will IT admins have control over AI settings for their organization?

Yes. IT administrators will be able to:
✔ Enable/disable AI features for their entire organization.
✔ Customize AI moderation settings to align with company policies.
✔ Access usage analytics to track AI feature adoption and effectiveness

‍

Measuring success

Outcome 

Measure

Current/Target

Current is X%

Priority

1

Increase adoption of AI noise & video enhancements

% of users enabling AI features

Target: +25%

P0

2

Improve meeting engagement levels

% of participants speaking at least once per meeting

Target: +10%

P1

3

Reduce disruptions due to background noise

% reduction in user complaints about poor audio

Target: -30%

P0

4

Improve video quality perception

% increase in positive feedback on video clarity

Target: +15%

P1

5

Increase structured discussions in large meetings

% of meetings where AI-managed speaker queues are used

Target: +25%

P1

6

Increase action item follow-through

% of meetings where AI-generated action items are utilized

Target: +35%

P2

7

Reduce meeting fatigue

% of users who report meetings feel more efficient with AI moderation

Target: +20%

P2

8

Improve enterprise adoption

% of business accounts enabling AI-powered features

Target: +15%

P1

9

Ensure AI features do not negatively impact performance

% of users reporting lag or technical issues due to AI

Target: ≤5%

P0

10

Increase retention among Zoom users

% increase in long-term engagement among AI users vs. non-users

Target: +25%

P2

‍

Milestones & Timelines

‍

Item

Timeline

Exit Criteria

Design user flow and wireframes .

1 week

User flow and wireframes completed for AI enhancements UI

Run validation interviews

1 week

70% of interviewees find AI-powered features valuable.

Develop AI noise suppression & video enhancement MVP

4 weeks

AI-enhanced audio/video processing is functional in test environments.

Develop AI meeting moderator MVP

4 weeks .

AI can detect speaker overlaps, manage engagement nudges, and track time

Run internal beta testing

2 weeks

AI performance validated with internal test groups.

High-fidelity design of AI settings & user controls

1 week

Engineering & design teams approve UI/UX for AI feature customization

Develop AI-powered meeting summary & action items

4 weeks

AI successfully generates summaries & action items for test meetings.

Run limited beta with select Zoom Business customers

3 weeks

Feature launched with 5,000 business users for feedback

Analyze beta test results & iterate

2 weeks

70%+ positive feedback from beta testers; critical issues resolved.

Full-scale rollout of AI noise/video enhancement

2 weeks

Feature launched to all Zoom users.

Full-scale rollout of AI meeting moderator

2 weeks

AI moderator fully available to Zoom Business & Enterprise users.

Collect and analyze post-launch usage data

Ongoing

AI adoption rate, engagement levels, and satisfaction metrics tracked

Refine AI models & add new enhancements .

Ongoing

New features based on user feedback and enterprise needs

‍

Appendix

‍

1. RESEARCH PLAN
2. RESEARCH SYNTHESIS 
3. USER AND USE CASE PRIORITIZATION
4. USER EXPERIENCE DOCUMENT
5. USERFLOW
6. MOCKUP
7. PROTOTYPE

‍