Microsoft is using AI to segment your face and shoulders and place you and your co-workers together in a virtual space. The software giant has been working on a new’- together mode’ for teams ever since the covid-19 pandemic began.

It feels like a far better way to remove visual distractions that you normally see in large gallery views in meetings. The new mode was developed earlier this week.

The types of body language can be difficult to pick up on when people are in their home environments or using custom backgrounds. I could easily see who was actually talking properly as well as how how how people were actually talking.

The new together mode will be generally available to all users in August. It will debut initially with an auditorium view, but Microsoft is working on more views that will arrive in the future.

The mode is designed to allow people to dynamically share content side by side with participants. It sounds like a mode that’s really useful if you’re presenting with a group of co-workers.

Microsoft is adding in video filters and live reactions to Microsoft teams. You can use the filters to adjust lighting levels or soften the focus of the camera to improve your webcam in teams.

Teams meetings will soon grow to support up to 1,000 participants. Microsoft is also adding live transcripts to teams later this year. The ability to translate live captions into subtitles so anyone can follow a meeting that’s being held in another language.

The short automated replies will be based on the context of previous messages in channels. Teams users can quickly respond to questions and more. Microsoft is also adding in chat bubbles support later this year.

You’ll be able to ask Cortana to make a call, join meetings, share files with colleagues, or send chat messages.

Most of these new Microsoft teams features will arrive in the app later this year. They’re a clear indication of how fast Microsoft is responding to competition and an ongoing pandemic.