Google's long-anticipated Project Starline has officially transformed into Google Beam, marking a significant advancement in how we experience remote communication. Announced at Google I/O 2025, this AI-first video platform aims to redefine virtual presence by making remote conversations feel remarkably like being in the same room.
At the core of Beam's technology is a state-of-the-art AI volumetric video model that converts standard 2D video streams into realistic 3D experiences. The system employs an array of six high-resolution cameras that capture users from multiple angles, with AI merging these video streams to create lifelike 3D renderings on a specialized light field display. Google claims the technology achieves near-perfect head tracking down to the millimeter at 60 frames per second in real-time, enabling natural eye contact and the ability to read subtle facial expressions and body language cues.
Beam is built on Google Cloud infrastructure and designed for enterprise applications, with integration support for popular videoconferencing services including Google Meet and Zoom. The platform will also feature AI-powered real-time speech translation capabilities, initially supporting English and Spanish, with Italian, German, and Portuguese coming soon. This functionality preserves the speaker's voice tone and expressions while translating conversations, potentially removing language barriers in global business communications.
Google has partnered with HP to manufacture and bring the first Beam devices to market, with plans to showcase them at the upcoming InfoComm event in June. Several major organizations have already signed on as early adopters, including Deloitte, Salesforce, Citadel, NEC, Hackensack Meridian Health, and Duolingo. Google is also collaborating with channel partners like Diversified and AVI-SPL to facilitate global distribution.
While pricing details haven't been disclosed, industry observers note that similar technology from other manufacturers has been estimated to cost between $15,000 and $20,000 per unit. The commercial launch comes at an interesting time as many companies shift back toward in-office work, though Google sees strong potential for Beam in office-to-office conferences and organizations committed to hybrid work models.
As the first commercial product to emerge from Google's multi-year research into 3D communication, Beam represents a significant step forward in creating more natural and immersive remote collaboration experiences that could transform how businesses connect across distances.