New Delhi: Cisco has announced the integration of AI into its Webex platform to enhance collaboration, performance, and communication capabilities. This new development will enable Webex to utilize AI, ensuring high-quality video and audio calls as well as meetings even in low bandwidth. Previously, AI capabilities in Webex were limited to text or document processing.
In addition to the integration of AI tools, Cisco is introducing a Webex-based AI Assistant having advanced features to enhance accuracy and productivity for customers. This AI Assistant, along with AI-based tools, will be deployed across the entire Webex portfolio, including Cisco Collaboration Tools, Webex Suite, Webex-based Contact Center, Control Hub, and Webex Connect. Notably, prominent customers such as Team DSM and McLaren Racing are already testing the newly introduced AI capabilities of Webex.
According to Jeetu Patel, GM & Executive VP, of Cisco Security, this marks a significant milestone in the era of hybrid work, with AI playing a vital role in bridging the communication and productivity gaps. He commented, ” Our Cisco Webex platform has long enabled our rapid pace of innovation. Today’s announcement is a monumental step forward, as customers will benefit from AI being pervasive in every aspect of the Webex platform.”
The RMMs: (Real-Time Media Models) introduced by Cisco will enable different media streams to generate various outputs, like object & people recognition, movement analysis, and gesture tracking. Furthermore, RMMs will incorporate contextual information from video & audio channels into text-based features like meeting highlights and summaries.
This integration of AI across audio, video, and text, domains will provide Webex users with insights in real-time. One potential application of this technology is the ability to recognize when a participant is absent and automatically generate notes to keep them updated upon their return.
Cisco is also addressing network impairments that can impact call quality and meeting performance through the introduction of an AI Codec. This AI solution aims to boost communication in real time by ensuring clear audio with good network connections.
The AI Codec incorporates speech enhancement features such as bandwidth extension, de-reverberation, and noise removal enabling audio clarity. Additionally, Webex’s efficiency with the AI Codec allows for robust transmission redundancy to mitigate network packet loss.
The Webex Assistant will help streamline IT operations and reduce costs. It prompts users to ask queries and generates real-time answers based on the user’s typed responses, facilitating quick access to missed meeting information or updates.
These enhanced capabilities will be rolled out incrementally, with shipping and availability planned to commence before 2023 ends.