What to know:

  • Zoom changes name from Zoom Video Communications to Zoom Communications Inc.
  • Company started in 2011 with 40 engineers, now serves millions of customers.
  • AI tools aim to enable four-day workweeks through increased productivity.

Zoom dropped "Video" from its company name to become Zoom Communications Inc, showing its growth beyond video meetings into an AI platform.

Eric Yuan started Zoom in 2011 with 40 engineers to build video conferencing software. The company launched Zoom Meetings in two years, then added Team Chat, Webinars, and Rooms. Zoom hired its 100th employee in 2015 and reached $1 billion value in 2017.

In 2019, Zoom released its Phone service and listed on NASDAQ. The Phone service grew to 4 million users by 2022, when Zoom also launched its Contact Center.

AI Companion 2.0 will function across the platform, accessing real-time web information and automating tasks. The feature comes at no additional cost for existing Zoom paid subscribers. The AI Companion helps users by creating meeting summaries, writing emails, and preparing materials. Zoom plans to make this tool customizable to help people complete work in four days instead of five.

The Custom AI Add-on, launching in 2025, will allow users to customize the AI Companion with company-specific terminology and data. The add-on will integrate with platforms like Jira, Workday, and Zendesk, while offering personalized coaching and custom avatars for Zoom Clips.

The company follows Henry Ford's example, who cut the workweek from 48 to 40 hours in 1926. Zoom believes AI can create similar changes in how people work today.

Zoom continues adding AI features like Zoom Docs and AI Companion 2.0 to help users work efficiently while staying connected with colleagues.

Source: Zoom | Via: The Verge