If you’re tired of being on camera during Microsoft Teams meetings, you’ll be excited to hear that Microsoft is introducing 3D avatars for all users starting in May. This update was recently announced on the Microsoft 365 roadmap, and the avatars have been in private testing for some time.
The purpose of these avatars is to give people an option to avoid appearing on camera during meetings. If you’re feeling camera-shy or just need a break from constant video calls, you can now choose to swap in a 3D avatar that will animate based on your vocal cues alone. No camera is required.
According to Katie Kelly, principal product manager for Microsoft Mesh, the avatars feature a variety of customized options so you can choose how you want to present yourself in a meeting. “It’s not binary, so I can choose how I want to show up, whether it’s video or an avatar,” she said in an interview with The Verge last year. “We can interpret your vocal cues to animate that avatar, so it does feel present and like it’s there with you.”
But that’s not all. Microsoft is also planning to use these avatars in its immersive 3D meetings that are being rolled out in partnership with Meta to VR headsets. They’re even making a Teams client for Meta Quest headsets so people can hold meetings in virtual reality with 3D avatars that feature floating emoji and animations like the ability to raise hands.
This update is a great option for people who want to participate in meetings without feeling like they’re constantly being watched on camera. And with the ability to customize your avatar and use vocal cues to animate it, you’ll still feel present and engaged in the meeting without the pressure of being on camera. Look out for this update in May and try it during your next Microsoft Teams meeting.
