Google’s 3D video calling platform gets a new experimental feature

Originally launched as Project Starline and officially presented at last year’s I/O, Google Beam leverages the firm’s volumetric‑video AI to render participants as fully three‑dimensional figures that can be viewed from any angle. This technology aims to restore the nuances of face‑to‑face interaction—eye contact, micro‑expressions, and subtle body language—that are often lost in conventional video calls.

With the upcoming update, users joining from standard devices such as MacBooks or Windows laptops will be displayed at life‑size proportions, giving the impression that everyone is seated around a shared table. Each video stream will be synchronized with spatial audio, anchoring voices to the corresponding avatars and further reinforcing the sensation of a common physical space.

The experimental feature is slated to run on HP’s Dimension display, a premium 65‑inch immersive screen equipped with seven AI‑powered cameras, a 12‑microphone beamforming array, and an array of additional sensors. This hardware suite captures facial expressions and gestures in real time, enabling the lifelike 3D rendering that Beam promises.

While the new feature won’t deliver a full 3‑D experience to every attendee—those without Beam‑compatible hardware will miss the extra depth—the experimental upgrade will still make 2‑D participants appear larger and their voices more natural. The system automatically optimizes this effect whenever someone joins a meeting from their home or office.

In a recent blog post, Google highlighted research indicating that such enhancements can bridge the hybrid “inclusion gap,” boosting participants’ sense of social connection by 50% and increasing their reported ability to contribute to conversations by 21%.

During the official keynote, the search giant announced that 13 of its products now boast over a billion users each, underscoring the platform’s expansive reach.