Google Meet: Google Meet video calls get new ‘beauty’ effects: What are they

Google has updated its Meet video conferencing platform with new filters. The tech giant claims that this highly requested feature will allow users to apply ‘beauty’ effects during video calls. In a Google Workspace update blog, the company announced that the portrait touch-up mode is currently rolling out to Google Meeton mobile devices for some select users.The feature will be rolled out to remaining accounts which is set to begin on October 28. The company also noted that it is planning to bring the portrait touch-up feature to Google Meet on the web “by the end of 2023.”
Google Meet portrait touch-up feature: Availability
Portrait touch-up will be disabled by default and can be activated in the Google Meet settings. The feature will be available only to users with premium Google accounts, including Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Education Plus, Google One, and Google Workspace Individual accounts. Portrait touch-ups won’t be available to users with a personal Google account.
Google Meet portrait touch-up feature: Key details
There are two portrait modes available. These modes offer different levels of complexion smoothing, under-eye lightening and teeth whitening.
The “Subtle” mode offers very light cosmetic adjustments, while the “Smoothing” mode is a touch heavier with the enhancements.

Google claims it enables users to “lightly touch up your appearance,” irrespective of the mode that users select. This means that the new feature isn’t intended for making significant adjustments.

Video-related platforms like TikTok and Instagram offer innovative filters and facial smoothing effects for a long time. Other rival video conferencing apps like Microsoft Teams and Zoom both already offer a range of ‘beautifying’ features. These filters can blur the user’s skin or even apply virtual makeup effects.