Artificial intelligence has entered the mainstream and helped us achieve new heights in efficiency through technology. This makes the advantages of AI seem practically limitless, giving our imaginations plenty of runway to reimagine what’s possible. 

While it’s fun to dream up the next great idea, implementing a new AI solution requires a strong commitment to safety and securing the data that drives it. We’re kicking off a new series on the Zoom blog, where we’ll discuss how and why you should implement generative AI safely and what Zoom is doing to create a safe and secure AI environment for our customers.

What is generative AI and how does it work?

 

AI can serve many different purposes, and generative AI gives you tools to generate new content including images, words, sounds, videos, and data through multiple inputs and outputs to AI models. Sometimes referred to as GenAI, generative AI goes beyond what’s humanly possible and uses various AI and machine learning algorithms to deliver instant results when prompted. In return, people can accelerate their work and save valuable time with generative AI tools for tasks such as drafting meeting summaries, sourcing images, or overcoming writer’s block with copywriting assistance. 

 

Generative AI solutions can be invaluable to the end user, freeing up time to focus on more meaningful work. But before you choose which AI tools to implement in your workflows, it’s important to consider a few things.

 

1. Determine and outline the problems you want to solve. Are you trying to improve customer service? Simplify repetitive tasks? Assess new trends? Translate and localize content quickly?
2. Develop a timeline. How quickly are you able to explore, evaluate, and implement your AI options? What teams in your organizations need to sign off? What’s the cost of moving too slowly?
3. Decide what matters to you. Different AI tools come with different benefits, drawbacks, and questions to ask the vendors you’re evaluating. What features are included in their services and how do they align with your goals?

In addition to these questions, it’s important to research how a vendor handles AI safety and security, and their privacy measures for implementing and using generative AI. We also recommend organizations and their end-users explore how data is collected and used to power the AI tools they want to implement.

 

 

What is AI safety versus AI security?

 

To begin with, it’s important to know how AI safety compares to AI security. AI safety and security are fundamental yet distinct aspects of the deployment and protection of AI systems, but specifically:

 

• AI security is focused on safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data used in AI models and systems.
• AI safety involves broader considerations related to robustness and reliability, ethical implications, long-term societal, economic, and environmental impacts, and impacts on human rights and values.

 

 

AI security at Zoom

  

To overcome some of the security challenges that surface with AI integrations (namely the need to safeguard AI models, datasets, and training environments), there are a number of emerging guidelines, standards, and frameworks from respected institutions such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), and jointly: the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Our approach to AI security aligns with these industry standards and leading practices and is designed to preserve the trust and confidence of our users by focusing on mitigating emerging threats. 

 

Our commitment to AI security is also integrated throughout the entire Zoom Secure Development Lifecycle (ZSDLC), encompassing secure supply chain management, model training, secure design, secure development, secure operation, and employee training. We’re incorporating AI considerations into our GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) policies and risk framework, and also including security testing and research conducted by our Security Assurance team.

 

 

How Zoom approaches AI safety

 

Our approach to AI safety starts with the models and data we use to build our services. For Zoom-hosted models, we validate and manage our training data, and when selecting third-party vendors, we evaluate their safety procedures to ensure they align with our mission. Our evaluations include testing the models against standard safety metrics to validate common issues that can occur through model training. 

 

Account owners and admins have controls to manage the availability of AI features for their accounts, including user and group level controls that provide options for deployment. These options include, when appropriate, allowing for human review of outputs before being shared more broadly. Additionally, when using in-meeting features within Zoom Workplace (our open collaboration platform with AI Companion), the sparkle icon notifies you that AI is enabled and in use to help provide transparency for customers and participants. 

 

Here are three different ways we approach AI security and safety at Zoom:

 

1. Protection of Zoom's AI products and services that utilize generative AI – such as Zoom AI Companion and Zoom Contact Center Expert Assist – and the underlying models that support them.
2. Leveraging AI throughout our security program and practices to stay ahead of evolving threats.
3. Securing Zoom's internal use of AI.

 

Managing safety and security alongside a federated AI approach

 

 

 At Zoom, we take a federated approach to AI, which means we apply the best large-language models for a specific task, including third-party AI models that customers are already familiar with. Customers can choose which features they use and whether they want to use Zoom-hosted models only, which is available for select features. This gives administrators more control over what’s available within their organization. 

 

In line with our commitment to responsible AI, Zoom does not use any customer audio, video, chat, screen sharing, attachments, or other communications like customer content (such as poll results, whiteboard, and reactions) to train Zoom’s or third-party artificial intelligence models. For more information about how Zoom AI Companion handles customer data,  visit our support page.

 

 

AI Companion, safety, security, and the future

 

While this initial discussion of AI safety and security just begins to scratch the surface, in the coming months, we’ll share more details about how we’re maximizing our efforts during the global shift to AI. We believe that AI is an incredible way to improve the way we work and that this is just the beginning. As we continue to release new features for AI Companion and Zoom Workplace, rest assured, AI safety and security are at the forefront of our development process.  

 

If you want to learn more about Zoom’s approach to privacy and security, join us for our upcoming webinar, titled Zoom’s Approach to AI Privacy and Security, on September 26, 2024.  

I can add image backgrounds to my Zoom meetings (have green paper on  my back wall & stand) but no option to add a video for my b/g (timer video during Toastmasters meeting).    All others seem to be able to do this.   I can share screen but not change my b/g while on the Zoom meeting.  Thank you.

Already vibing with Zoom for your virtual hangouts and meetings? Then you’re in for a treat! Zoom just dropped a new feature that’s about to make your group projects, study sessions, and team collabs way easier: Zoom Docs📄✨

So, What’s the Hype About?

Zoom Docs is your new go-to tool for real-time document magic. Whether you’re plotting your next big idea, jotting down notes, or just want a single spot for everyone to contribute, this feature lets you do it all directly inside Zoom. Say goodbye to app-switching headaches and hello to smooth, seamless collabs. 🙌

Why You’ll Love It:

1. Live Edits, No Stress: Forget the back-and-forth of emailing docs or switching between apps. With Zoom Docs, you and your squad can work together in real time without ever leaving your Zoom call. Instant edits, live comments, zero hassle.
2. One App to Rule Them All: If you’re already using Zoom, Docs slides right into your setup. No extra installs, no juggling multiple platforms—just open a doc and get to work. It’s all-in-one, just like it should be.
3. More Chill, More Productive: Less time app-hopping means more time getting stuff done. Zoom Docs helps you focus, streamline, and crush your goals together, faster.
4. Security On Lock: It’s Zoom, so you know your stuff is safe. Docs comes with all the same top-notch security you’ve come to expect from Zoom, so your documents are as protected as your meetings.

Get Started in 3...2...1!

Ready to try it out? Here’s how you jump in:

1. Open Zoom and hit up the ‘Docs’ tab.
2. Start a new doc or dive into an existing one.
3. Share with your crew and start collabing like a pro!

If you’re already on Zoom, Docs is live and waiting for you. If you’re new to Zoom, now’s the time to hop on board and see what you’ve been missing!

When to Use It:

• Group Projects: Co-create, edit, and finalize docs with your group in real time—no need to wait for “updated versions.”
• Brainstorming Sessions: Jot down all your wild ideas on the spot and keep the creativity flowing.
• Study Sessions: Keep everyone on the same page with shared notes and docs that you can all edit together.

What’s Next?

Zoom is all about keeping you connected, and Docs is another step in making sure you’re working smarter, not harder. Whether you’re a Zoom veteran or just diving in, try out Zoom Docs today and see how it takes your teamwork to the next level.

Ready to Collab? Jump into Zoom Docs Now!
Make teamwork fun, easy, and efficient with Zoom’s latest feature. Give it a try and let the collab vibes flow! 🌊

I manage a Zoom account with about 70 licenses for my college. We assign scheduling privilege to our administrative assistants for all of our academic faculty. Whenever an administrative assistant joins our unit or leaves their role but stays in the unit, I have to assign or remove this privilege manually for each of our fifty or so academic faculty.   

Is there a more automated way I can approach this? I've looked into using the groups or role feature for this, but I haven't been able to figure out a way to make this work. 

I was wondering if anyone was using Canvas and the LTI Pro settings "Course-Level Publishing" and "Recordings Viewable to Students"?  If anyone can show a screenshot of how this actually looks at the user level that would be great.  Also, can I leave Recordings Viewable... to "All" and set course-level publishing to enabled?  I am thinking this has the affect of all recordings are still automatically published, but instructors would now have the option of unpublishing any recording that they choose (while also not changing the current status of any recording until they choose).  Thanks in advance.

Greetings,

I am attempting to have a purple flag created for a reaction.  This flag is used to alert those in the class someone has said something that is an unconscious bias.  For example if someone in the class says or does something bias the participants can put up the Purple flag, for example if someone says that came up on my blind side a purple flag would be raised to remind the speaker that they were being insensitive to unconscious biases.  I have attempted to share the video below.  Thank you for your time.

Would you be able to direct me to the following Zoom Support documents?

1. How faculty can add the Zoom LTI to their Blackboard Ultra course.
2. How faculty can Schedule a New Meeting using the Zoom LTI in their Blackboard Ultra course.
3. How students can meet in groups using the Zoom LTI in a Blackboard Ultra course. The students will need to meet, record, and access the recordings on their own from within the Blackboard Ultra course.

I'm a senior product manager that works for the largest Catholic health system and the second-largest nonprofit hospital chain in the United States. We operate more than 700 care sites and 142 hospitals in 21 states. We're looking to connect with other Zoom healthcare system clients to learn how others are utilizing Zoom within their healthcare and business workflows. If you're open to this type of discussion, please connect with me.

I have licensed seats where the folks are often co-hosts.  We arrange webinars months in advance.  Co-hosts are asking me where in their Zoom profile can they see the webinars where they are listed as co-hosts because the original notification may have been sent months earlier.  Is there anywhere in a licensed User (of any role) profile,  a way to show what upcoming webinars one is assigned as a co-host?  Or, is the only solution to find the original email for their co-host login?  I'm fairly new and learning more about my owner/admin role.  Thank you.  

Zoom: A platform that brings people together from around the globe, and recognizes the challenges posed by language barriers. To foster inclusivity and facilitate communication, Zoom offers translated captions. This feature eliminates the need for interpreters and third-party integrations, allowing for a more seamless experience for all participants. Whether you're a multinational corporation or a global educational institution, translated captions help break down language barriers and create a more welcoming environment in your meetings and webinars.

By breaking down language barriers, this feature makes Zoom meetings and webinars more accessible to a wider audience. It empowers participants to easily translate the spoken language into their preferred language, fostering collaboration and understanding in our interconnected world.



How Zoom Translated Captions Work:

Enable the Feature and Select Languages: Translated captions are simple to enable within the Zoom web portal. Once enabled, just set your preferred languages. 

Real-time Captions: The meeting host or co-host can now enable translated captions during a meeting. As participants speak, their words will be displayed in real-time captions at the bottom of the screen in the selected languages.

To view a complete transcript of your Zoom meeting, go to the Zoom web portal and enable "Full Transcript." Then, during the meeting, select "View Full Transcript" from the "Show Captions" menu. A window will appear on the right side of the interface, displaying the full transcript with the speaker's name next to each caption for easy reference.



With Zoom Translated Captions, you can:

-Improve Understanding: Ensures that everyone can follow the conversation, regardless of language barriers.

-Increase Engagement: Encourages participation from all attendees, leading to more productive and inclusive meetings.

-Enhance Accessibility: Provides a valuable tool for individuals with hearing impairments.

-Boost Global Collaboration: Facilitates effective communication and collaboration across diverse teams.

By utilizing Zoom Translated Captions, you can create more inclusive and accessible meetings that foster effective communication and collaboration across diverse teams and audiences.

Note: Translated captions are already included in the Zoom Workplace Business Plus and Zoom Workplace Enterprise Plus plans, but it is also available as an add-on for other paid Zoom accounts.

How to enable translated captions: Click Me!