I don’t like blurring office backgrounds or replacing them with ready-made images, but luckily I have a small environment at my disposal that I have complete control over and would love for people to see . Doctor Zhivago A DVD on the shelf behind me. However, we see it using a new AI-generated background that Google is currently testing in Workspace Labs (via) XDA-Developer / 9to5Google).
This feature was discovered by Artem Rusakovsky, tweeted about it this afternoon. If you have already enabled this feature on your account, you can enable it by simply clicking the effects icon in the bottom right corner of the preview video before joining the meeting and entering the prompt describing what you would like. Choose from a selection of categories as seen in this handy GIF from Google.
If you’re already in the meeting and want to change it, that option is in the three-dot menu[視覚効果を適用する]Hidden in options. I tried to test it, but unfortunately it seems that I am not included in the initial rollout, despite being part of Google’s testing program. Google says on its support page that the feature is “rolling out in phases and may not be available yet.”
Perhaps that would be as good as trying to create a decidedly unprofessional, horrible HR Giger-themed roller coaster background or something like that.
But maybe you are luckier than I am. If you’d like to give it a try but haven’t joined the Workspace Labs testing program yet, you can request to join us on our site. Then, if you forgot what I said above, visit the Google support page that explains how to get an AI-generated background for your meeting and see for yourself.
However, there is a big caveat to keep in mind if you sign up. Google’s Workspace Labs privacy policy for personal accounts states that “Human reviewers read, annotate, and process Workspace Labs data” to improve functionality. You can find similar wording on the support page linked above.
