Microsoft Teams will implement a new technology to its software that can identify your voice and filter out extraneous audio, including the hum of your neighbor’s lawnmower, your dog’s incessant barking – and yes – even you chomping through a bag of Doritos.
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“With the power of AI, Teams can remove that background noise and you can understand me very clearly,” Robert Aichner, Microsoft’s Principal Program Manager, said during a press demonstration while fussing with a bag of chips. According to CNET, the AI did indeed – as Aicher promised – filter out all extraneous noises. The Redmond-based tech giant calls this technology “real-time noise suppression.” This forward-thinking AI couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time as more workplaces around the world are working from home and hopping on video calls to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait a while for real-time noise suppression to be featured on Microsoft Teams; the technology won’t be available until later this year. Until then, if you’re social distancing and relying on videoconferencing meetings for work, please be more considerate of your co-workers before chomping away on potato chips and slurping your soda – your Doritos and Pepsi can wait.