The Brief: Zoom has unveiled a range of new AI-powered features designed to improve meeting accessibility and inclusion for diverse participants. These enhancements include more accurate real-time captions, greater customization options for caption appearance, support for over 36 languages through real-time translation, and improved bilingual captioning. Zoom also introduced on-device processing for captions, ensuring reliable performance in low-bandwidth conditions. Developed in collaboration with researchers from the University of Washington, these features aim to make virtual collaboration more seamless for users who are deaf or hard of hearing, part of multilingual teams, or working in inconsistent network environments. The update is available in Zoom version 6.5.0 and supported on eligible paid plans.
Read full details of the announcement about how Zoom AI advances meeting accessibility at zoom.com.
Analyst Perspective: Zoom AI features for inclusive and accessible meetings address multiple pain points in virtual communication. Enhanced speech recognition delivers clearer transcripts across varied environments, benefiting all participants—especially those who rely on assistive tools. Customizable captions empower users to fine-tune their on-screen experience, accommodating a range of visual and cognitive preferences. Real-time translation in more than 36 languages enhances participation in international meetings, and improved bilingual caption detection enables seamless understanding during language shifts. On-device processing ensures the accessibility tools remain stable in low-bandwidth conditions, extending inclusive support to users in variable connectivity scenarios.
Zoom’s updated Speech AI offers more accurate real-time captioning through advanced modeling techniques. This improvement benefits participants in noisy environments or those using complex vocabulary by delivering more consistent and reliable transcriptions. These upgraded captions form the core of Zoom’s AI Companion features, such as meeting summaries and action items. For individuals who rely on captions, whether due to hearing differences or situational limitations, the enhancement supports clearer comprehension and more active participation. Accurate captioning is foundational in fostering accessibility and communication equity across virtual workspaces. These improvements help ensure that everyone, regardless of ability or environment, can stay informed during meetings.
Participants now have more control over how captions appear in their Zoom meetings. New customization options allow users to adjust font size, text color, background color, opacity, and on-screen position. These updates address a wide range of personal accessibility needs, from visual preferences to processing comfort. Whether someone is in a loud setting, experiences hearing difficulties, or simply finds visual text easier to follow, these settings let them tailor the experience accordingly. This flexible approach enables more participants to stay engaged during meetings and supports hosts in creating a more inclusive communication space by accommodating individual preferences.
Zoom now supports real-time translated captions in over 36 languages, making meetings more accessible for multilingual participants. With AI-driven speech recognition and translation capabilities, Zoom detects the spoken language and displays captions in the participant’s preferred language. This enhancement includes widely spoken languages such as English, Mandarin, Spanish, French, and Arabic, and extends to languages not commonly supported on other platforms. Translated captions are available through Zoom Workplace Enterprise plans and as an add-on for other paid subscriptions. This update helps global teams collaborate more efficiently, ensuring that language barriers do not hinder understanding or meeting productivity.
Zoom’s new on-device processing feature ensures caption reliability even in low-bandwidth situations. When supported by a user’s device, audio is processed locally rather than in the cloud, preserving real-time captioning performance even with unstable internet connections. This update is particularly useful for those working remotely, traveling, or located in areas with inconsistent connectivity. The feature activates automatically once enabled in the settings and helps maintain accessibility without requiring advanced setup. Through processing audio locally, Zoom ensures that meeting participants can continue to follow discussions through captions, regardless of their network environment—reinforcing consistent access across all conditions.
Zoom’s latest accessibility enhancements highlight how AI can deliver concrete benefits to virtual communication. From improved real-time caption accuracy and customizable text settings to broader language translation and reliable on-device performance, these features aim to address the specific needs of today’s diverse meeting participants. Rather than focusing only on individuals with hearing disabilities, Zoom's inclusive design extends usability to anyone facing situational or linguistic challenges. This broad, user-centric approach strengthens collaboration, ensures more people can follow and contribute to conversations, and fosters equal access. As accessibility becomes a standard expectation rather than a niche feature, Zoom’s continued investment in AI shows a commitment to practical inclusivity in digital communication.