Otter.ai develops avatars to replace humans in meetings
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — Otter.ai, an AI transcription company, is developing personalized AI avatars that can attend meetings on behalf of users.
Sam Liang, Otter.ai’s CEO and co-founder, envisions these avatars not just as note-takers but as active participants who can speak, answer questions, and emulate their owners in meetings.
“The more you learn about the user, the better the avatar can be. Then, we inject all this into the training system and build a model that emulates them,” Liang explained to the Financial Times.
The future of meeting attendance
The prototypes are still being tested, but Liang says the technology is “very promising,” with applications ranging from personal meetings to sales discussions.
The system works by collecting extensive meeting data from users, including past conversations with venture capitalists, customers, and internal team discussions. The AI avatar training also incorporates additional data sources such as Google documents, memos, emails, and Slack messages to create a more accurate representation of the user.
Beyond simple transcription
The company, which has processed over a billion meetings, has evolved since its founding in 2016. While currently focusing on business applications, Otter.ai’s avatar technology aims to handle various meeting scenarios, starting with one-on-one interactions.
“The simplest form of meeting is a one-on-one meeting. So we can start with that,” Liang noted. “Another one we’re working on is what we call a sales agent. We train a sales agent that can talk to a customer, and explain the product, and answer customers’ questions.”
Building on strong foundations
With approximately 20 million users and a last funding round of $50 million in 2021, Otter.ai has established itself as a leader in AI transcription.
Competition is fierce, with tech giants like Google and Microsoft offering similar services. However, Liang believes Otter.ai’s platform-agnostic approach and proprietary technology give it an edge. “We are much more nimble and agile,” he said, adding that their tools cater to both virtual and in-person meetings—something Big Tech largely overlooks.
Privacy and future applications
Despite its innovation, Otter.ai has faced scrutiny over privacy concerns, including a notable incident involving a shared transcript after a meeting had concluded. Liang acknowledged the issue, calling it a “hot mic situation,” and emphasized the company’s commitment to security with encrypted data and strict access controls.
Looking ahead, Liang sees AI avatars extending beyond meetings to record valuable everyday interactions, from hallway chats to coffee shop conversations. “Although we’re focusing on business use cases now, this can be used in personal life as well,” Liang noted, sharing his own experience of using Otter to capture precious calls with his sons.
As AI adoption grows, Otter.ai aims to simplify workflows and eliminate the monotony of meetings. With plans to enhance its avatars and expand capabilities, the company is betting big on a future where AI doesn’t just attend meetings—it transforms them.
