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Have you ever found yourself struggling to take detailed notes during a Zoom meeting, only to realize later that you missed crucial points? Or perhaps you’ve had to step out of a meeting, leaving you out of the loop on important discussions.
Zoom IQ Meeting Summary is here to alleviate these issues by automatically generating comprehensive summaries of your meetings.
Powered by AI, Zoom IQ Meeting Summary ensures that all key points and action items are captured accurately, allowing participants to stay engaged without the distraction of note-taking. These summaries are then emailed to you and can be shared with other participants via team chat, ensuring that everyone, including those who missed the meeting, stays informed.
But is relying on Zoom’s native tool the only way to get an accurate meeting summary?
Are there other tools out there that might better suit your needs?
Have you tried other tools for meeting summaries?
Let's find out how the Zoom IQ Meeting Summary works, and if there's any better way for you to get summaries of your meetings. (spoiler alert: there is!)
What Is Zoom’s AI Companion?
Zoom's AI Companion, also known as Zoom IQ, is an innovative tool designed to enhance the meeting experience by leveraging advanced AI technologies. Integrated seamlessly into the Zoom platform, this AI companion assists with various functions to improve efficiency and productivity during virtual meetings.
One of the primary features of Zoom IQ is the Meeting Summary. This functionality uses AI to automatically generate concise summaries of your meetings, capturing the key points and highlights.
These summaries are then sent to the meeting host and any participants who have opted to receive them via email. Additionally, the summaries can be shared in the team chat, allowing those who missed the meeting to catch up quickly on the outcomes and decisions discussed.
In addition to generating meeting summaries, Zoom IQ offers the Chat Compose feature. This tool uses generative AI to draft messages based on the context of a Team Chat thread.
Additional AI Companion Features
- AI Companion Questions: Allows meeting participants to ask the AI assistant questions to catch up on anything they missed, without interrupting the meeting.
- Thread Summary: Condenses and summarizes lengthy Team Chat threads for easier review.
In this blog, our primary focus is on the meeting summary feature of Zoom's AI Companion. While Zoom offers a range of additional features, we will specifically delve into the capabilities of the meeting summary functionality in this discussion.
How to Access Zoom AI
Access to Zoom AI features, including meeting summaries, depends on your Zoom account type and potentially your organization's settings.
Here's a breakdown:
Checkpoint #1: Free vs. Paid Accounts
- Free Zoom Accounts: Unfortunately, the meeting summary functionality isn't available with free Zoom accounts.
- Paid Zoom Accounts: If you have a paid Zoom plan, you can potentially leverage Zoom AI features like meeting summaries. However, the specific functionalities may vary depending on your exact plan.
Checkpoint #2: Account Admin Controls
- Enabling Zoom IQ: Even with a paid plan, Zoom account admins have control over whether Zoom IQ features are enabled for the entire organization or specific user groups. If you're unsure about your organization's Zoom IQ status, contact your IT department or the account admin.
Checkpoint #3: Enabling Zoom IQ for Meetings
1. Log into your Zoom account at zoom.us and go to your account settings:
- Click on the "Settings" tab in the left navigation menu
- Locate the "AI Companion" section near the top
2. Enable the desired AI Companion features:
- Toggle on "Meeting Summary with AI Companion" to automatically generate meeting summaries
- Enable "Automatically start meeting summary for all meetings you host" if you want the summary to start automatically
3. Customize the AI Companion settings to your preferences (Optional Settings):
- Turn on "AI Companion Questions" to allow hosts and participants to ask questions during the meeting. Choose who can ask questions to the AI Companion during the meeting (all participants, participants from join time, or just the host).
- Configure who can receive the meeting summary (just the host, host and invitees, or all attendees)
- Enable "Smart Recording with AI Companion" to add features like highlights, chapters, and next steps to cloud recordings
4. Keep in mind that some settings may be locked by your Zoom account administrator, so check with them if certain options are unavailable.
5. Once set up, you can start using the AI Companion features during your Zoom meetings by clicking the relevant buttons in the meeting controls.
The key is to review the available AI Companion settings in your Zoom account and enable the features that will be most helpful for your meeting needs and workflow.
Checkpoint #4: Using AI Companion in Different Zoom Services
Zoom IQ is integrated into various Zoom services, including Zoom Meetings, Zoom Team Chat, and other collaborative tools within the Zoom ecosystem.
Further Considerations:
- Language Limitations: It's important to note that some Zoom AI features, like meeting summaries, could have language limitations. Please check this link to make sure whether it supports your native language or not.
- Regional Availability: Zoom AI features may not be available in all countries or regions. Please check this link to make sure about your country status.
How to Get a Meeting Summary Using Zoom IQ
Zoom AI Companion summarizes meeting content through a combination of AI technology and user settings.
Here's a step-by-step overview of how it works:
1. Enabling Meeting Summary:
Ensure you have the Zoom IQ Meeting Summary feature enabled in your Zoom account settings. This feature is available for all paying plans and was introduced with the 5th of June 2023 release (version 5.14.10). Follow the steps mentioned earlier in this blog.
2. Starting the Summary:
- During a meeting, click the "Start Summary" button in the black Zoom toolbar.
- The meeting host will receive a notification that the summary is about to be enabled.
- Meeting attendees will also receive a notification and need to agree to participate before joining the meeting.
NOTE: This feature must be enabled by the meeting host in order to be used. It will not automatically run unless a meeting host sets it up to do so.
NOTE: This feature will only work in Zoom version 5.14.2 and later. To update, please visit zoom.us/download and update to the latest version of Zoom.
An Easier Way to Get a Meeting Summary on Zoom (4 Steps)
Want less hassle with all the required permissions and other restrictions made by Zoom?
Here's how to record your meetings in 4 simple steps with Wudpecker.
Note: Currently these steps only work for Mac, but a Windows desktop app is coming soon. In the meanwhile, you can use our notetaker bot which works without installing an app!
Setting up the app and your account
Step 1: Go to this page for the download link and install the app.
Step 2: Open the app from the Applications folder or by pressing Cmd + Space, then typing Wudpecker and pressing Enter)
Step 3: Sing up or sign in to Wudpecker with your Microsoft or Google account. (A browser tab will automatically open for that)
Using the app
Step 4: Start recording.
Now you're free to either conduct a physical or remote meeting. Wudpecker records both from the system and the microphone, so it doesn't matter where your meeting is or which account you're using on the meeting platform.
You can also pause and continue the recording any time, in case you don't want certain parts to stay on record.
There will be no notetaker bot or anything else visible joining your virtual meeting room.
Once you stop recording, Wudpecker automatically starts processing the notes and opens them for you.
There's no expiration date for your notes, and Wudpecker offers unlimited meeting summary storage.
Wudpecker vs. Zoom AI Summary Comparison
When it comes to enhancing meeting productivity with AI, both Wudpecker and Zoom AI Companion offer unique features.
However, Wudpecker stands out in several key areas that make it a more suitable tool for recording and summarizing meetings.
Point 1: Recording Type and Storage
Wudpecker focuses on efficient audio recording, which takes up less storage space and allows for faster processing of meeting transcripts and summaries.
In contrast, Zoom supports both audio and video recording, which can consume more storage and potentially slow down the summary generation process.
Point 2: Paid Plans
Wudpecker offers a free plan that provides comprehensive meeting assistance, including automated summaries, transcripts, and insights. Check out this link to know more about Wudpecker's pricing policy.
Zoom's AI-powered summary feature is only available on their paid plans, which may be less accessible for some users.
Point 3: Summary Generation Speed
Wudpecker's AI-powered summary generation is designed to be fast and efficient, allowing users to quickly review key meeting details.
For Wudpecker, it takes anywhere from less than a minute to five minutes to produce a comprehensive summary, depending on the meeting length.
Zoom's summary generation may take longer, especially for longer or more complex meetings, due to the additional processing required for video recordings. Zoom generates accurate AI-driven summaries that are emailed to users about 15 minutes after the meeting.
Point 4: Editable Summaries and Customization
Wudpecker allows users to customize the format and structure of the meeting summaries, ensuring they align with individual preferences and workflows.
You can manually edit the content of a section or the whole blog using the Rewrite with prompt feature, using clear formatting like headings and bullet points. You can edit the meeting summaries with instructions that apply to only one call, similar calls, or all calls.
Utilize and customize templates for different meeting types. Highlight key decisions and action items, personalize all future notes to a format you like. Tailor the summary for different stakeholders, emphasizing strategic decisions for executives and detailed tasks for team members, and mention names and roles for a personalized touch.
Zoom's summaries on the other hand may be less flexible, limiting the user's ability to tailor the output to their specific needs. Most importantly in zoom only the host can edit the summary.
Point 5: AI Insights
The Ask Wudpecker feature goes beyond simple transcripts and summaries, providing users with contextual information and suggested questions to help them gain more insight from the meeting and make better decisions. You can ask unlimited queries from Ask Wudpecker and it will provide the related information.
Zoom's AI summary feature is more limited in the depth and breadth of insights it provides. It doesn't suggest questions about the meeting discussion. Zoom AI Companion is also limited to 30 queries per day, per user.
Point 6: Summarize Content from Other Platforms
Wudpecker can summarize content from various sources, including different meeting platforms and video content. Wudpecker's desktop app is capable of recording both system and microphone audio, which enables Wudpecker to record both online meetings (in any meeting platform) and in-person meetings.
The Zoom IQ Meeting Summary feature is specifically designed to summarize the content and discussions from Zoom meetings. With Zoom, you can only record online meetings; not in-person gatherings.
Conclusion
Both Zoom IQ and Wudpecker are powerful AI-driven tools designed to enhance the efficiency and productivity of your meetings. If you need a tool that integrates seamlessly with Zoom (and only Zoom) and provides automatic summaries, Zoom IQ is a strong contender.
However, if you value flexibility as well as quality across all meeting platforms (not just Zoom), customization, and the ability to handle diverse meeting scenarios, Wudpecker offers unmatched capabilities.
By comparing the strengths of both tools, you can choose the most efficient and effortless meeting experience that suits your needs.
FAQs
How to Get Meeting Summary With Zoom IQ?
To leverage Zoom IQ for generating meeting summaries, follow these steps to enable and customize the AI Companion features:
Enable Desired Features:
- Toggle on "Meeting Summary with AI Companion" to automatically generate meeting summaries.
- Enable "Automatically start meeting summary for all meetings you host" if you want summaries to start automatically.
- Turn on "AI Companion Questions" to allow hosts and participants to ask questions during the meeting.
- Configure who can receive the meeting summary (options include just the host, host and invitees, or all attendees).
- Enable "Smart Recording with AI Companion" to add features like highlights, chapters, and next steps to cloud recordings.
Customize Settings:
- Decide if you want to start the meeting summary automatically or manually.
- Choose who can ask questions to the AI Companion during the meeting (all participants, participants from join time, or just the host).
- Select which smart recording features to enable, such as highlights, chapters, summaries, and next steps.
Check with Your Zoom Account Administrator:
- Some settings may be locked by your Zoom account administrator. Check with them if certain options are unavailable.
Start Using AI Companion Features:
- Once set up, use the AI Companion features during your Zoom meetings by clicking the relevant buttons in the meeting controls.
Review the available AI Companion settings in your Zoom account and enable the features that will best support your meeting needs and workflow. This setup ensures that all key points, decisions, and action items are captured and accessible for you and your team.
What Does the Zoom AI Summary Do?
The Zoom AI Summary feature leverages artificial intelligence to create concise summaries of your meetings.
Here's what it does:
- Summarizes the main topics discussed during the meeting, highlighting important points.
- Lists tasks and action items that were agreed upon, ensuring that participants know their responsibilities.
- Provides a complete transcript of the meeting, allowing you to review the entire conversation if needed even if you have missed meetings.
- Categorizes the summary into sections such as topics, action items, and key questions for easy navigation.
- Emails the summary to the meeting host and participants who opted to receive it, making it easy to share and review.
What Does Zoom IQ Do?
Zoom IQ is a suite of AI-powered features that enhance productivity, collaboration, and customer interactions for Zoom users.
Zoom IQ features enhance meeting efficiency and communication by providing automated tools such as Meeting Summary, Chat Compose, Thread Summary, and Smart Recording.
For more detailed information please visit this link.
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