Questions
- What AI features are available in Zoom at Bowdoin?
- How do I enable Zoom's AI Companion?
- What is Zoom Meeting Summary and how do I use it?
- What is Zoom Smart Recording?
- Does Zoom's AI Companion comply with Bowdoin's privacy requirements?
- How long are Zoom AI meeting summaries and smart recordings kept?
- Who can see the output from Zoom's AI features?
- How do I turn on AI features in my Bowdoin Zoom account?
Environment
This article applies to all Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students with a Bowdoin Zoom account. Two Zoom AI Companion features are available: Meeting Summary and Smart Recording. Both have been reviewed by Bowdoin Information Technology (IT) and found to comply with Bowdoin's security, privacy, and accessibility requirements. Each feature must be enabled in your Zoom account settings before it is available in meetings.
Resolution
Enable Zoom AI Companion Features
- Go to bowdoin.zoom.us and sign in with your Bowdoin credentials.
- Click Settings in the left navigation.
- At the top of the Settings page, locate the AI Companion section.
- Toggle on Meeting Summary, Smart Recording, or both, depending on which features you want to use.
Meeting Summary
Meeting Summary uses AI to generate a text summary of a meeting's audio — capturing the main discussion topics in the order they were covered. Participants see a notification when the summary is active.
To start a summary during a meeting: Click AI Companion in the meeting toolbar and select Start Meeting Summary. Click Stop Summary when you want to stop.
After the meeting: The host receives the summary by email. It is also available in your Bowdoin Zoom account under AI Companion > Meeting Summary. The summary can be edited and shared.
To hide subtitles from your own screen while the summary is running, click the AI Companion menu and choose Hide Subtitle. Other participants can still view them.
Smart Recording
Smart Recording enhances a Zoom cloud recording by automatically generating a full transcript, a general meeting summary, chapter markers, individual section summaries, and suggested next steps. Participants see a notification when Smart Recording is active.
To use Smart Recording: When hosting a meeting, click Record and select Record to the Cloud. Smart Recording processing begins automatically after the meeting ends.
Recordings are available in your Bowdoin Zoom account under Recordings.
Retention policy: Zoom cloud recordings — including those produced by Smart Recording — are automatically deleted after 6 months, consistent with Bowdoin's Media/Video Recording retention policy. Download or transfer recordings you need to keep before they expire.
Feature Comparison
| Feature |
Smart Recording |
Meeting Summary |
| Disclaimer shown to all meeting participants |
Yes |
Yes |
| Retention period |
6 months |
None specified |
| Who can access the output |
Meeting Host |
Meeting Host |
| Uses Zoom cloud storage |
Yes (cloud recording) |
No |
| Meets WCAG accessibility standards |
Yes |
Yes |
| Generates a transcript |
Yes |
No |
Privacy and Compliance
Before using any AI-enhanced tool at Bowdoin, review Bowdoin's Guidelines for the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools. If you plan to use a software tool that incorporates AI in a new context, submit a request through the Bowdoin IT AI review process at the same link to confirm it meets Bowdoin's security, privacy, and accessibility requirements.
Additional Help
If you need further assistance, you have several options:
- Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
- Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
- In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
- Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
Additional Resources