Boom Collaboration Blog: Video Conferencing Tips & Insights

Is AI the Holy Grail for AV? Or Just Another Layer?

Written by Holli | Mar 27, 2026 3:27:58 AM

AI is everywhere right now. Every platform, every product, every pitch. And in AV, it’s no different. But the real question isn’t whether AI is important. It is. The question is whether it’s actually making meetings better or just making systems more complicated.

👉Not in the mood to read? Listen to the AI-narrated version instead. 

 

 Where AI Is Actually Making an Impact in AV 

AI has moved fast over the past year. What used to feel like a “nice to have” is now showing up in everyday workflows.

Most people are already using AI without thinking about it :

  • Auto-generated meeting summaries
  • Live transcription and translation
  • Smart camera framing and speaker tracking

In video conferencing, things like face tracking and voice tracking have been around for a while. What’s changing now is how intelligent and scalable those systems are becoming.

AI is starting to manage multi-camera environments in a way that used to require a human operator. That’s a big shift. Especially for companies that don’t have the time or budget to manage complex setups.

Behind the scenes, AI is also helping IT teams stay ahead of problems by predicting system failures and reducing downtime.

That’s where it starts to get interesting.

AI and Content Creation in AV

AI is quietly becoming one of the most useful tools in AV workflows.

In multi-camera environments, AI can:

  • Automatically switch between speakers
  • Improve framing in real time
  • Reduce the need for manual PTZ control

In content creation and editing, it’s already doing things like:

  • Leveling audio across clips
  • Cleaning up transitions
  • Adjusting framing automatically

In many cases, it’s not replacing people. It’s removing friction.

And when you remove friction, things actually get used.

Where AI Improves the Experience

For us, the most valuable use cases are simple.

Live presentations. Hybrid meetings. Rooms where not everyone is in the same place.

AI can:

  • Track presenters as they move around
  • Focus on active speakers
  • Filter out distractions in the room

That leads to a better experience for remote participants, which is still where most systems fall short.

Does AI Actually Make AV Easier to Use?

This is the part that matters most.

Because if it’s not easier, it’s not better.

Simplicity is core to everything we build at Boom. AI can support that, but only if it’s used the right way.

Where AI helps:

  • Reducing setup steps
  • Automating camera behavior
  • Removing the need for manual control

Where it doesn’t:

  • Overcomplicated interfaces
  • Too many “smart” features that confuse users

A good example of where this is going is facial recognition for presenters. Cameras will be able to identify and track someone automatically based on a reference image.

No setup. No training. No learning curve.

That’s the goal.

AI in Design, Installation, and Support

One area that doesn’t get talked about enough is how AI is helping behind the scenes.

AI can now assist with:

  • Room design and layout planning
  • Camera and microphone placement
  • Cable routing and line-of-sight validation

Before an installer even walks into a room, they can have a strong starting point.

On the support side, AI is helping diagnose issues faster and guide troubleshooting.

That’s a big deal for integrators and IT teams who are constantly under pressure to do more with less.

Do I Use AI Personally? Yes. Every Day.

I use AI constantly.

For:

  • Translations
  • Drafting content
  • Summarizing meetings
  • Organizing thoughts

It’s incredibly useful.

But it’s not perfect.

AI still:

  • Misses context
  • Gets details wrong
  • Sounds generic if you don’t refine it

You still need a human layer. Always.

What AI Means for the Future of AV

AI is not a feature. It’s becoming a default layer of technology.

Just like the internet did.

Some industries will feel the impact faster than others. Contact centers and marketing are already seeing it.

In AV, the shift will be more gradual. But it will be just as important.

The companies that win will be the ones that:

  • Keep systems flexible
  • Focus on real user needs
  • Use AI to simplify, not complicate

The ones that don’t will get stuck maintaining systems people don’t want to use.

What About the People in AV?

There’s a lot of fear around AI replacing jobs.

That’s not what we’re seeing.

What we’re seeing is:

  • Skillsets evolving
  • Tasks becoming more efficient
  • People moving into higher-value roles

AV is already attracting talent from adjacent industries like telephony because it’s more dynamic and more modern.

AI will accelerate that trend, not reverse it.

The Biggest Risk: Overengineering

If there’s one thing the AV industry doesn’t need, it’s more complexity.

And that’s the risk with AI.

Too many rooms are already:

  • Over-specified
  • Hard to use
  • Built for edge cases instead of everyday use

Users don’t want more features. They want meetings that just work.

AI should:

  • Remove friction
  • Improve reliability
  • Stay invisible to the user

Not become another layer people have to manage.

So… Is AI the Holy Grail?

No.

It’s a tool.

A powerful one. But still just a tool.

The real opportunity is using AI to deliver on something the AV industry has been chasing for years:

Better meetings. Simply.