One of Microsoft’s Teams video calling feature is being
introduced to Skype: the Together Mode. This advanced feature uses Artificial Intelligence
to cut out a person’s face and shoulders and place them together with other
people in a virtual space, making it look like everyone is sitting around each
other. In order to access the feature, at least 5 people with webcams would be needed.
The Together Mode will work through Skype’s web version,
without the need for an account. Users would simply need to create a Meet Now
meeting and share its link with others to join.
Microsoft launched this Teams feature back in July and it was even used by the NBA to bring basketball fans courtside in a virtual experience during live games.
The integration of a Teams feature in Skype is kind of
surprising, though, as Microsoft shifted its focus entirely to Teams for video
calling during the pandemic, while Zoom started to get a crazy amount of
attention with the lockdowns compelling people to work and socialize from home.
Microsoft is also bringing another Teams feature to Skype alongside
Together Mode: the Large Grid Mode, that allows you to see everyone’s video
stream at the same time.
Both the Teams features are part of Skype’s latest version, that
is available across Windows, Mac, Linux, and the web.
