Guidance on third-party AI bots in Zoom
Article Contents
What is Read AI?
Why it's a Concern
Recommended Alternative: Zoom AI Companion
How to remove or deactivate Read AI
Technical Support
What is Read AI?
Read AI is a third-party tool that integrates with Zoom and other platforms to provide AI-powered meeting summaries, sentiment analysis, and transcription. When enabled, it often joins meetings as a “guest participant,” which can catch hosts or attendees off guard.
We’ve received feedback from users who:
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Were unaware that Read AI had access to their meetings
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Felt uncomfortable seeing an unfamiliar bot join their sessions
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Didn’t realize they had signed up for the service at all
Why It’s a Concern
While Read AI offers convenience, it is not a TSS-supported or vetted service. This raises potential privacy concerns, especially for meetings involving sensitive topics or confidential data.
Recommended Alternative: Zoom AI Companion
Zoom’s built-in AI Companion features are approved and fully supported by TSS. These tools offer similar benefits — such as meeting summaries, smart recordings, and live note-taking — without introducing unknown third-party bots or requiring additional integrations.
Benefits of using Zoom AI Companion:
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No bots join your meetings
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Seamless integration within Zoom’s secure environment
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Supported by TSS and governed under existing institutional policies
Learn more about Zoom AI Companion features in our Knowledgebase Article: https://kb.rice.edu/136892
How to Remove or Deactivate Read AI
If you've unintentionally enabled Read AI, you can remove it by following the steps outlined in this helpful guide from the University of Washington:
🔗 https://it.uw.edu/guides/security-authentication/read-ai-deactivation/
You may also find additional tips and community insights in this thread from the Zoom Developer Forum:
🔗 https://devforum.zoom.us/t/how-to-get-rid-of-read-ai/101996/60