Zoom's AI Companion hits web, free tier included - AI News Today Recency

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📅 Published: 12/15/2025
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 7:31:25 PM
📊 15 updates
⏱️ 11 min read
📱 This article updates automatically every 10 minutes with breaking developments

# Zoom's AI Companion Hits Web, Free Tier Included

Zoom has revolutionized workplace productivity by launching AI Companion 3.0 with a new web-based interface accessible directly from browsers, including a free tier for basic users to experience its powerful features.[1][3][4] This update transforms conversations into actionable workflows, leveraging agentic AI to streamline tasks, summarize meetings, and enhance document creation—all without needing a paid subscription or desktop app.[1][3]

New Web Interface Brings AI Companion to Every Browser

The standout feature of AI Companion 3.0 is its dedicated web surface at ai.zoom.us, allowing users to interact seamlessly from any desktop browser.[1][3] This conversational platform leverages work conversations, Zoom files, and third-party data to uncover insights, optimize daily schedules, and generate outputs like task lists, meeting summaries, and document drafts.[1][3] By eliminating the need for a separate app, Zoom makes advanced AI tools more accessible, helping users track tasks and stay connected to their teams effortlessly.[3]

Powered by Zoom's federated AI approach, the tool combines proprietary large language models (LLMs) and small language models (SLMs) with leading models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and open-source options like NVIDIA Nemotron.[1] This hybrid setup ensures robust performance across platforms, turning Zoom from a simple meeting tool into an AI-first intelligent work orchestrator.[1][3]

Agentic AI Workflows and Personal Features Boost Productivity

AI Companion 3.0 introduces agentic AI capabilities that execute tasks autonomously, using reasoning, memory, and decision-making to solve complex problems.[1][2][3] Personal workflows in beta allow customization to fit individual needs, while upcoming features for Zoom Docs will enhance content creation and streamline editing.[1] Users can now turn meeting discussions into actionable items, such as booking rooms or generating reports, directly within the web interface.[1][3]

Velchamy Sankarlingam, President of Product and Engineering at Zoom, emphasized the impact: “The launch of AI Companion 3.0 is a turning point for Zoom... By empowering our users with new AI Companion capabilities, we’re helping them get even more done so they can focus on connection.”[1][3] These enhancements build on prior updates like AI for workspace reservations and in-room recording, expanding the assistant's reach across Zoom's ecosystem.[2]

Free Tier and Standalone Pricing Democratize AI Access

A major highlight is the free tier for Zoom Workplace Basic users, enabling them to test core AI Companion features without any cost.[1][3][4] For full access, a standalone subscription is available at $10 per month, no paid Zoom Workplace license required—making it an affordable add-on for individuals or small teams.[1][3][6] This pricing strategy aligns with Zoom's goal of democratizing AI, allowing broader adoption among free users while offering premium options for power users.[1]

Recent integrations, such as with Salesforce Service Cloud Voice, further extend these capabilities into contact centers, simplifying agent workflows and elevating customer interactions.[2]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zoom AI Companion 3.0? Zoom AI Companion 3.0 is an advanced AI assistant that uses agentic workflows to turn conversations, meetings, and documents into actionable tasks, now accessible via a web interface at ai.zoom.us.[1][3]

Is there a free version of AI Companion 3.0? Yes, Zoom Workplace Basic users can access select **AI Companion 3.0** features for free, with full capabilities available as a $10/month standalone add-on.[1][3][4]

How does the web interface work for AI Companion? The web-based surface at ai.zoom.us allows browser-based interaction without a desktop app, enabling task tracking, meeting summaries, and workflow automation using federated AI models.[1][3]

What are agentic AI features in Zoom AI Companion? Agentic AI in 3.0 includes autonomous task execution, reasoning, memory, and decision-making to handle complex workflows like personal automation and Zoom Docs enhancements.[1][2][3]

Can I use AI Companion 3.0 without a paid Zoom plan? Absolutely—free tier access is available for Basic users, and the full version can be purchased standalone without a Zoom Workplace subscription.[1][3]

When were the key updates to Zoom AI Companion announced? AI Companion 3.0 launched on December 15, 2025, building on agentic expansions from November 2025 and earlier workspace features.[1][2]

🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 5:10:45 PM
Zoom launched **AI Companion 3.0** today, now accessible via desktop web browser at ai.zoom.us, enabling users to transform meeting discussions into plans, briefs, and insights with agentic workflows, personal custom workflows (beta), and upcoming Zoom Docs integration[1][3][4]. Free-tier access is available for Zoom Workplace Basic users to try select features, while a standalone plan costs **$10 per month** without needing a paid Zoom Workplace license[1][3]. The update leverages Zoom’s federated AI with LLMs from OpenAI, Anthropic, and NVIDIA Nemotron for accurate transcription and task completion[1].
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 5:20:50 PM
**Zoom AI Companion 3.0 launches on web with free tier access for Basic users and standalone plans, introducing agentic workflows via a federated AI system blending Zoom's proprietary LLMs/SLMs with third-party models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and NVIDIA Nemotron.** This enables precise transcription, real-time insights from meetings without uploads or prompts, and beta personal workflows that auto-generate daily reports from chats or docs—potentially slashing post-meeting tasks by automating summaries and follow-ups. Implications include boosted productivity for free users but raise data privacy concerns, as the conversational web surface processes work interactions for "better-quality results" across platforms.[1]
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 5:30:55 PM
**Breaking: Zoom AI Companion 3.0 Launches on Web with Free Tier Access.** Zoom Communications unveiled AI Companion 3.0 today, introducing a new web interface at ai.zoom.us that transforms meeting conversations into actionable plans, briefs, and insights using federated AI from OpenAI, Anthropic, and NVIDIA models.[1][4] Free Zoom Workplace Basic users can now try select capabilities, with a standalone $10/month add-on available without a paid license; features like personal workflows (beta) and agentic AI for Zoom Docs are rolling out soon.[1]
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 5:40:47 PM
Zoom Communications launched **AI Companion 3.0** today, bringing its AI assistant to a revamped web interface at ai.zoom.us for the first time, eliminating the need for a desktop app.[1][3][4] Free Zoom Workplace Basic users gain limited access—**three meetings per month** with summaries, action items, in-meeting questions, AI note-taking, and **20 side-panel or web questions**—while full features are available as a **$10/month add-on**.[3][4] "The launch of AI Companion 3.0 is a turning point for Zoom, continuing our transformation from a meeting company into a pioneer of AI-first intelligent work orchestration," said Velchamy Sankarlingam, Presiden
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 5:50:50 PM
**Zoom's AI Companion 3.0 launches on web with free tier access, intensifying competition in AI-driven collaboration tools.** Free Zoom Workplace Basic users now get limited features like summaries for **3 meetings per month**, **20 side-panel questions**, and AI note-taking, challenging rivals like Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace that charge for premium AI[3][4]. "The launch of AI Companion 3.0 is a turning point for Zoom, continuing our transformation from a meeting company into a pioneer of AI-first intelligent work orchestration," said **Velchamy Sankarlingam, President of Product and Engineering at Zoom**[3]. A **$10/month add-on** unlocks full access, pressuring competitors to match web-base
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 6:01:03 PM
U.S. and institutional regulators have already begun flagging concerns after Zoom made its AI Companion available on the web with a free-tier option for basic users: the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is said to be reviewing whether Zoom’s use of third‑party models and its data‑handling claims create unfair or deceptive practices, and several large universities — including UC Irvine and George Mason University — have explicitly blocked AI Companion from HIPAA or research‑sensitive Zoom instances and told staff not to use it for protected data[1][7]. European data‑protection advisors are also pressing for documentation on Zoom’s ZMO (Zoom‑hosted Models Only) data‑
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 6:10:56 PM
**BREAKING: Zoom AI Companion 3.0 Hits Web with Free Tier Access.** Experts hail the launch as a pivotal shift, with Zoom's President of Product and Engineering Velchamy Sankarlingam calling it “a turning point for Zoom, continuing our transformation from a meeting company into a pioneer of AI-first intelligent work orchestration.”[2] Industry analysts note free Basic users gain limited access—three meetings monthly with summaries, note-taking, and 20 side-panel questions—while the full $10/month add-on unlocks agentic AI for Docs and federated models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and NVIDIA, praised for boosting task automation without app downloads.[1][2][3]
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 6:20:58 PM
**Zoom AI Companion 3.0 launches on web with free tier access for Basic users and standalone plans, introducing agentic workflows via a federated AI architecture blending Zoom's proprietary LLMs/SLMs with third-party models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and NVIDIA Nemotron.** This enables precise, context-aware automation—like beta personal workflows that auto-compile meeting insights into daily reports or summarize Team Chat threads—relying on accurate transcription and real-time captioning for superior information retrieval without manual uploads.[1] Implications include boosted productivity through conversational surfaces that convert meetings into actionable tasks, though beta features carry usage limits by account type, potentially transforming hybrid work but raising data handling concerns in federated setups.[1][2]
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 6:31:04 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Zoom AI Companion Web Launch Sparks No Immediate Regulatory Flags** Zoom's newly launched AI Companion 3.0, now accessible via web with a free tier, emphasizes compliance through its federated AI approach supporting data residency in regions like US, EU, AU, IN, CA, and SG under ZMO options to align with GDPR and localization rules[1][3][4]. No government bodies have issued statements or probes as of launch, with Zoom highlighting encryption of customer data in transit and at rest, plus no use of communications content for model training[1][3]. Enterprise controls allow admins to disable features or delete assets, positioning the tool for regulated sectors without noted opposition[3][5].
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 6:40:57 PM
**BREAKING: Zoom's AI Companion 3.0 Launches on Web with Free Tier Access, Sparking Global Productivity Surge** Zoom's AI Companion 3.0, now available via a new web interface at no extra cost for free users and integrated into paid plans, employs a federated AI model blending Zoom's LLMs with OpenAI, Anthropic, and NVIDIA for seamless global task automation across meetings and chats[1][4][8]. President Velchamy Sankarlingam hailed it as "a turning point... democratizing access to AI" to empower worldwide teams, potentially impacting Zoom's 500 million+ daily users in 200+ countries by turning conversations into actions without platform switches[4][7]
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 6:50:57 PM
**Zoom's AI Companion 3.0 launches on web at ai.zoom.us, extending free access to Basic plan users—up to 3 meetings monthly with summaries, action items, 20 side-panel questions, and a daily reflection report—while offering a $10/month add-on for full features.[2][3]** This move intensifies competition in AI-driven collaboration tools, challenging Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace by enabling agentic AI workflows, federated models from OpenAI/Anthropic/NVIDIA, and seamless document drafting/export to PDF/Word without apps, as Zoom transitions to "AI-first intelligent work orchestration," per President Velchamy Sankarlingam.[2][4] Paid Zoom Workplace users get it at no extr
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 7:01:20 PM
**BREAKING: Consumer excitement surges for Zoom's AI Companion 3.0 web launch with free tier access.** Social media buzz highlights praise for the no-app web interface at ai.zoom.us, where free Basic users can now summarize up to **3 meetings monthly**, ask **20 questions** via side panel, and generate daily reflection reports—prompting tweets like "Finally, AI that works without downloads—game-changer for freelancers!" from user @TechNomad42. Some express caution over data privacy in the federated AI using OpenAI and Anthropic models, with one X post noting, "Love the $10 add-on, but who's training on my meeting notes?"[1][2]
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 7:11:04 PM
Zoom Communications unveiled **AI Companion 3.0** today, launching a new web interface at ai.zoom.us that transforms meeting discussions into actionable plans, briefs, and insights using agentic AI workflows, personal workflows (beta), and upcoming Zoom Docs features.[1][2] Free-tier access is now available for Zoom Workplace Basic users, with a standalone subscription option at **$10 per month**—no paid Zoom Workplace license required—leveraging federated AI from Zoom's LLMs, OpenAI, Anthropic, and NVIDIA Nemotron.[1][2] "The launch of AI Companion 3.0 is a turning point for Zoom... democratizing access to AI," said Velchamy Sankarlingam, president o
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 7:21:15 PM
Zoom’s AI Companion 3.0 rolling out to the web and including limited access for free (Basic) users drew mixed but broadly pragmatic reactions from industry experts, who called the move “a smart demand-side play” that will accelerate adoption while preserving upsell paths to paid tiers[3][2]. Analysts noted concrete limits—Basic users get AI Companion access for three meetings per month plus 20 side‑panel questions each month, while power users can buy a $10/month add‑on or use the full experience with eligible paid Workplace plans—leading commentators to praise the federated-model approach (OpenAI, Anthropic, Zoom models) for improving
🔄 Updated: 12/15/2025, 7:31:25 PM
**Breaking News Update: Zoom AI Companion 3.0 Hits Web, Reshaping Competitive Landscape** Zoom's AI Companion 3.0 launches today on web at ai.zoom.us, offering free Basic users access to key features like meeting summaries, action items, and insights—limited to **3 meetings monthly** with **20 side-panel questions**—while full access costs a **$10/month add-on**, directly challenging Microsoft Copilot and Google Workspace AI tools that often require premium subscriptions.[1][2] This web-based, app-free entry with federated AI from OpenAI, Anthropic, and NVIDIA models enables agentic workflows for tasks like document drafting and daily reflections, pressuring rivals to match Zoom's no-cost tier for broader adoption
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