I am not a fan of blurring out or replacing my office background with premade images. However, I do understand the appeal, especially for those who have limited control over their environment. Personally, I enjoy having my personal touches visible, like the Doctor Zhivago DVD on the shelf behind me.
That being said, I find myself intrigued by the new AI-generated backgrounds that Google is currently testing in its Workspace Labs. This feature was discovered by Artem Russakovskii, who shared his findings on Twitter. For those who have access to this feature, it is quite simple to activate. By clicking on the effects icon in the bottom right corner of the preview video before joining a meeting, users can type in a prompt and choose from a variety of categories. Google has provided a helpful GIF demonstrating this process.
Furthermore, if you are already in a meeting and wish to change your background, you can access the option through the “Apply vision effects” menu, which can be found by clicking on the three dots icon. Unfortunately, I am not part of the initial rollout for this feature, despite being part of Google’s testing program. According to Google’s support page, the rollout is happening gradually and may not be available to everyone just yet.
While I may not be able to try it out myself, I can’t help but wonder what creative possibilities this feature offers. However, I also realize the importance of maintaining a level of professionalism in professional settings. If I had access to this feature, I might be tempted to create bizarre and unprofessional backgrounds inspired by H.R. Giger. So in a way, it’s probably for the best that I don’t have access at the moment.
But perhaps you’ll have better luck than me. If you’re interested in trying out the AI-generated backgrounds and you’re not already part of the Workspace Labs testing program, you can request to join on Google’s website. And if you ever forget how to access this feature, you can always refer back to the Google support page that provides detailed instructions on how to get AI-generated backgrounds for your meetings.
However, it’s essential to be aware of a significant caveat if you decide to sign up. Google’s Workspace Labs privacy policy states that “human reviewers read, annotate, and process your Workspace Labs data” to improve the features. Similar language can be found on the support page mentioned earlier. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand and accept the privacy implications before participating in this testing program.
In conclusion, Google’s experimentation with AI-generated backgrounds in its Workspace Labs opens up interesting possibilities for enhancing virtual meetings. While I personally prefer to display my real environment, I can see the appeal of having the ability to change backgrounds to suit different situations. If executed thoughtfully, this feature could significantly improve the overall meeting experience for many users. However, it’s crucial for participants to understand the privacy implications and make informed decisions about participating in these testing programs.
