If you've ever been scared to look away for a second at your notes while in a Teams meeting, worry no longer. Microsoft is making AI-driven eye contact and a number of other productivity features part of the Windows platform, the company said in a press briefing accompanying its Future of Hybrid Work presentation on Tuesday. The new features represent some nifty uses of artificial intelligence, on a PC platform that has struggled somewhat to integrate them. On smartphones, AI is generally used to enhance photo-taking and minimize background noise. Microsoft is adapting these features to Windows 11 PCs, bringing improved background blur alongside a feature called voice clarity.

Zoom says the feature can evoke the feeling of being in a classroom or boardroom, with everyone arranged in front of the same backdrop. In that sense, it could offer a less distracting setup compared to the traditional gallery view, by replacing the grid format for a shared background that places participants next to each other. To keep things fun, users can upload their own virtual backgrounds or use the scenes provided by Zoom. If you're getting a feeling of déjà vu, it's because last summer Microsoft Teams offered something similar with Together Mode. The feature relied on AI to pull your image and place it together with your co-workers in a virtual space, like an auditorium.

Cisco this afternoon announced its intent to acquire speech technology startup BabbleLabs. BabbleLabs, founded in 2017, today focuses on improving meeting quality through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. BabbleLabs offers noise suppression and speech enhancement technology, called Clear Edge, that is able to distinguish human voices and quickly mute out all of the non-voice background noise. A couple of examples that most people are likely familiar with are the loud typist and the potato-chip eater. Both are annoying and highly disruptive to meetings.

One of the biggest highlights for all apps has been the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to attract users.