Google on Wednesday (May 22) unveiled a new feature for its video conferencing platform, Google Meet. Called “Adaptive Audio,” Google says it allows users to jump into Meet using multiple laptops in the same room without the echo that typically results and creates “audio feedback.” It was announced alongside another feature that makes it easier to manage communication in Spaces. This comes just weeks after the company announced the integration of Gemini 1.5 Pro Large Language Model (LLM) into Google Meet, bringing information search and meeting summarization capabilities.
Details about Google Meet’s adaptive audio feature
In a blog post about Workspace, Google announced that the new “Adaptive Audio” feature works by automatically detecting multiple laptops present in the same room. It then synchronizes the speakers and microphones to avoid the echo that usually occurs when multiple devices are placed in close proximity.
According to the blog, it becomes useful when non-traditional spaces, such as coffee shops and lounges, are used as meeting rooms. Furthermore, Google also claims that it can prove useful to those who don’t have dedicated equipment or limited video conferencing facilities.
“This allows teams to create ad-hoc meeting spaces anywhere with just their laptops where everyone can be heard clearly, without the inconvenience of crowding around one laptop,” the company said.
How to use the Google Meet Adaptive Audio feature
When multiple participants join a call in the same room, this feature is automatically activated and an icon is visible in the upper left corner of the screen, Google says. He groups people in the “Participants” panel and blends their audio to “make sure everyone hears and hears each other well.” It is on by default and there is no admin control for it, and turning it off can cause “echoing or howling”. Users can switch it by going to Settings > Sound > Adaptive Sound.
“Adaptive Audio” on Google Meet is being introduced gradually and will be available to all Google Workspace users with Gemini Enterprise, Gemini Business, Gemini Education, Gemini Education Premium and the AI Meetings and Messaging add-on in the coming weeks.
