In a growing number of workplaces, video meetings now include an unseen participant: an AI bot that not only takes notes but also offers real-time critiques on how people speak. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, these bots are being used by companies to mediate discussions, transcribe conversations, and in some cases, flag when a participant is speaking too flatly or interrupting others.
For many, the bots act as silent scribes, summarizing discussions for absent colleagues or keeping official minutes. But in other instances, they speak up. Josh Stir, a senior software development manager at a tax services company, told the WSJ that a Zoom-integrated bot urged him to vary his pitch during a meeting. The AI suggested he raise and lower his tone to keep the group engaged. Stir, however, was discussing the technical details of enterprise tax software—a subject he noted is inherently monotonous. "I was like, yes, that's what I'm here to do," he said. "It's technology for corporate tax software. No one's going to carry me out of the room on their shoulders."
The experience has left some employees unsettled. Zack Schwartz, whose company tested the bots last spring, compared the sensation to "having a conversation with someone at a coffee shop, and you look out the window and all you see are a pair of eyes looking at you." Colin Dougherty, a tech marketing director, described a "dystopian" encounter where he arrived first to a call and was greeted by a row of silent AI bots.
Beyond the Creepiness Factor
Marketer Jessica Malnik told the WSJ that the bots can also dampen the mood, creating a "weird power dynamic" in meetings when they stand in for absent participants. The presence of faceless bots, she suggested, can make the conversation feel less human and more monitored.
While some may welcome the nudge to be more engaging, the technology appears to lack nuance. A speaker discussing a dry but complex topic might be told to liven up, even when the subject matter doesn't lend itself to theatrics. The bots also seem unable to read the room, potentially interrupting a serious discussion with a comment about delivery style.
Proponents argue that such tools could help curb bad habits like interrupting or dominating conversations. But the reports suggest that the current implementations are more likely to distract or unsettle than to improve communication. As one employee put it, the feedback can feel like a lecture from an invisible supervisor.
The trend reflects a broader push to integrate AI into everyday work tools, from email drafting to meeting scheduling. However, the video meeting bots represent a more intrusive step, one that monitors not just what is said but how it is said. Whether this leads to better meetings or just more awkward ones remains to be seen.
