How AI Is Set to Transform Enterprise CommunicationsHow AI Is Set to Transform Enterprise Communications

Since the pandemic revolutionized remote work, collaboration technology has largely plateaued.

Video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams have become staples, but their functionality hasn’t evolved significantly.

However, artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to bring transformative changes to enterprise collaboration, with next-generation video capabilities, AI-powered tools, and personal bots promising to streamline workflows and spark creativity.

From Intent to Action: Shrinking the Workflow Gap

One of AI’s most significant impacts on collaboration, explained Will McKeon-White, an analyst at Forrester, will be its ability to reduce the time between expressing intent and achieving outcomes.

“Meetings typically serve a purpose—to make decisions, share updates, or progress a relationship with a client,” he said.

The traditional process of gathering, synthesizing, and sharing information often adds friction to these objectives.

AI has the potential to eliminate these inefficiencies by dynamically providing relevant information in real time.

For example, when a project manager asks about a task’s status during a meeting, an AI agent could automatically pull data from tools like JIRA or Trello and present it immediately.

“We’re starting to see a shrinkage in the time between saying, ‘I want something,’ and that something being displayed or happening,” McKeon-White said.

This shift could also extend to automating routine tasks, such as generating client-facing reports or preparing draft presentations.

“Instead of spending hours tinkering in PowerPoint or Adobe, AI could dynamically create a draft based on your input,” he explained.

By reducing time spent on manual preparation, employees can focus on more strategic and creative aspects of their roles.

Breaking Down Language Barriers

Another transformative development is AI’s ability to bridge communication gaps across languages. Real-time translation tools are evolving to support multiple language pairs simultaneously, enabling seamless collaboration for global teams.

You don’t have to spend so much time using words as intermediaries,” McKeon-White said. “Instead, both parties can directly collaborate in their own languages, with their visions understood by everyone involved.”

This capability is particularly valuable for multinational organizations where language barriers can impede productivity.

Enhanced translation features not only facilitate smoother communication but also ensure inclusivity, allowing all team members to contribute equally regardless of their native language.

Unlocking Creativity on the Fly

AI’s ability to assist with ideation and brainstorming in real time could be a game-changer for creativity.

McKeon-White described scenarios where teams can collaboratively sketch out ideas or solutions without being bogged down by the limitations of traditional tools.

“Instead of spending time piecing things together manually, AI can provide an immediate draft or visual representation based on your commands,” he said.

This real-time input enables faster iteration and refinement, allowing teams to stay agile and responsive.

Whether it’s a creative project, a business strategy, or software development, AI tools can ensure that all stakeholders align more effectively by dynamically reflecting their input and ideas.

William Siegelin, senior product manager for AI products at Zoom, said one of AI’s biggest contributions to collaboration is solving what Siegelin calls the “blank page problem”—the hesitation and difficulty that comes with starting a new project from scratch.

AI-powered tools embedded in Zoom’s Docs, Whiteboard, and Team Chat, for example, help users generate ideas, structure thoughts, and find relevant information from past conversations.

“Users get stuck,” Siegelin said. “They have an idea, they have a concept, and they just need something to get that spark moving.”

AI can jumpstart that process, allowing teams to focus on refining and building upon ideas rather than struggling to get started.

The Business Potential

While AI can inspire creative breakthroughs, businesses also need structure and organization to keep collaboration productive.

Without it, “collaboration can turn into a happy form of chaos,” Siegelin noted.

He explained AI helps bring order to that chaos by automatically summarizing meetings, identifying key discussion points, and ensuring that conversations lead to actionable outcomes.

McKeon-White stressed that success hinges on more than just adopting the latest features—it requires alignment with business goals and a commitment to training and adoption.

“AI is about more than cutting-edge functionality—it’s about creating a seamless, inclusive environment where employees can focus on what matters most,” he said.

Siegelin added integrating AI into collaboration platforms isn’t just about adding flashy new tools—it requires thoughtful adoption strategies and addressing one of the biggest challenges, user education.

“We can sell AI all we want, but if you’re not guiding the user on how to actually use it, they won’t see its full potential.”

By embedding AI into natural points of interaction, companies minimize the learning curve and help employees see immediate value, making AI a seamless part of daily work rather than an added complexity.

Collaborating with Confidence

Beyond efficiency, AI can empower more people to participate in collaboration with confidence.

Siegelin sees AI evolving into a personalized assistant, learning user preferences, surfacing relevant information, and ensuring that everyone—regardless of expertise—has the insights they need to contribute meaningfully.

“There’s a massive benefit to individuals being able to find time for personal lives while still staying connected to key projects,” he said. “AI allows users to step away from meetings without missing critical discussions, reducing stress and improving work-life balance.”

He said he believes the next frontier for AI in collaboration will be deeply personalized, understanding individual work habits and adapting to user needs in a secure and transparent way.

“You get the wow factor, then you build the trust,” Siegelin said. “Once AI starts to feel like second nature, that’s when we’ll see it truly take off.”