Google Meet Enhances AI-Generated Backgrounds with Improved Quality and New Preset Styles

Google Meet's AI background generator just got a big upgrade

5 Google products and features that may be destined for the Google Graveyard in 2025 Summary Google Meet's AI-generated backgrounds are getting a major upgrade for better quality and visual appeal, beginning right now. The update includes new preset background styles and themes for a customized virtual environment. The enhanced background generator will be available to Business, Enterprise, and Education Workspace users with Gemini add-ons. Google Meet's AI-generated backgrounds were kind of a flop. Google is hoping to turn that around with a big update to the feature that makes AI-generated backgrounds more realistic and visually appealing. This is all thanks to a big upgrade to Gemini's image generation powers. Related 5 best AI note-taking apps for Google Meet to make each call easier Supercharge your Google Meet notes Posts 1 The update produces higher-quality virtual backgrounds that better match user requests. There are also some new preset background styles, so users can customize their virtual environments. It's all part of Google's attempts to make video calls feel more immersive. Whether it will catch on with users remains to be seen. Here's what you can expect from the new Google Meet enhancements Source: Google Google first introduced AI-generated backgrounds in 2023. Users could generate custom environments for video calls on Google Meet. However, the quality of the backgrounds didn't impress anyone. It seemed as though Google had forgotten the feature, until we started hearing rumors of a new background image generator on the way last November. Today, Google made it official. Choosing a background is fairly straightforward. The new background categories include the following: Professional office. Stylish living room. Cozy living room. Tropical beach. Fantasy castle. Sci-fi spaceship. Simply open Google Meet, navigate to the background settings menu on the right, and select Generate with Gemini. From here, you can choose from the new background styles to help theme your background, or input a custom request. Workspace admins need to first enable the feature. Go to Admin console > Apps > Google Workspace > Settings for Google Meet > Meet video settings. Who gets access to this new background generator? The new and improved AI-enhanced background generator is rolling out in the US and select markets. Google says it will start today, March 6, and will reach Business Standard and Plus Workspace users, as well as Enterprise Standard & Plus users, Education Plus users, and users with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on. Google also said anyone who previously purchased these AI-related add-ons will receive the feature, even though the Business and Enterprise add-ons are no longer available. Hopefully, this enhanced feature will make video calls interesting again. After all, why not have a business meeting on a spaceship?

Google Meet is finally giving you the tools to create better AI-generated video backgrounds

Looking your best on a work call could soon be easier than ever thanks to a new upgrade from Google Meet. The video conferencing service has introduced two major improvements to help users craft better custom background images for their meetings and calls. This includes a new image generation model which offers major improvements on the previous offering, as well as several new preset styles, both of which Google hopes will give users the chance to inject a bit more personalization. In a Google Workspace Updates blog post announcing the news, the company says its "upgraded" image generation model, "will significantly improve the visual appeal and quality of generated backgrounds, while also better representing user requests." This goes alongside a range of new preset styles for those looking for a bit more inspiration when creating a custom background. The new styles are; Professional office, Bookshelf, Stylish living room, Cozy living room, Tropical beach, Fantasy castle, and Sci-fi spaceship. The feature is rolling out now, and will need to be enabled by admins before users can begin. The upgrades will be available on Google Workspace Business, Standard and Plus tiers, as well as Enterprise Standard and Plus tiers, and with the Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on. Google says anyone who previously purchased the Gemini Business, Gemini Enterprise, and AI Meetings and Messages add-ons will also receive this feature. The news is the latest upgrade for Google Meet users, coming not long after the company revealed its automatic framing tool will be coming to all Google Workspace platform tiers, giving more users a better depiction of themselves whilst on a call. The tool helps automatically center users in the middle of the screen when joining a video call or meeting, meaning they are properly framed and as visible as possible.