Looking to bring an Interactive Avatar into your Zoom meeting—whether to replace yourself or add a dynamic, human-like presence for your clients or coworkers to interact with?
Thanks to HeyGen's seamless Zoom integration, there's no need to rely on the Streaming API anymore. Follow the steps below to authorize HeyGen’s Zoom Marketplace app and have your Interactive Avatars join your Zoom meetings effortlessly.
🛎️ Note: Having your custom or public interactive avatar join Zoom meetings is a free freature from HeyGen, not utilizing any API credits and doesn't require a paid HeyGen or API subscription! For more information on other API pricing questions, please visit this API Plan article.
⚠️ Important: Currently, there is no way to remove the HeyGen Watermark from the interactive avatar during zoom calls due to Zoom's security requirement.
Setting up your Interactive Avatar and Knowledge Base
First, ensure that the Interactive Avatar you’re using is linked to the correct Knowledge Base that will power its responses. In the Knowledge Base, you can customize an ‘opening phrase’ for your avatar to greet participants and set the information it will use to answer questions. For more on ‘prompting’ your avatar, check out this article.
Once your Knowledge Base is ready, head to Select Avatar. Hover over the three dots on the top right of the avatar you want to send to the Zoom meeting, and choose ‘Select knowledge’. Then, simply select the Knowledge Base you’ve created to fuel your avatar's interactions in the meeting.
Connecting to Your Zoom Account
Once you’ve set up the Knowledge Base for your Interactive Avatar, go back to the Interactive Avatar screen and click Connect to Zoom. This will take you to the Zoom authorization page, where you’ll need to click Allow to let your avatars join your meetings. By granting this access, you’re giving HeyGen the ability to:
Create a meeting for a user
This allows HeyGen to schedule Zoom meetings on your behalf, using your account, for both you and your avatars.
View a user
We need this permission to use your token to create meetings through the Zoom SDK*.
View a recording
HeyGen sends you recordings of meetings so you can review how the session went with your avatar.
View a user’s Zoom Access Key
We require this permission to use Zoom SDK* for functions above.
Inviting your Interactive Avatar to your Meetings
To first enable your Interactive Avatar to be able to communicate with you during a Zoom meeting, follow these steps:
The meeting host should log in to www.zoom.us
Navigate to Settings.
Toggle on the Participants Video option.
After connecting the Participant Video Zoom with HeyGen, head over to the Interactive Avatar page and click Send to Zoom -> ‘Meet avatar in Zoom now.’ You’ll be able to interact with your avatar in a live Zoom meeting!
⚠️ Important: Make sure to select Approve Recording in Zoom for the avatar to function correctly. Also, remind future meeting hosts to approve this setting too.
After chatting with your Interactive Avatar, if you think it could have a bit more information to share, remember you can update its Knowledge Base anytime!
Sync to Google Calendar
Once you're happy with your Interactive Avatar's interactions, you can start sending it to meetings!
Simply connect your Google Calendar in the top right of the avatar window, find the meeting(s) you want to send your avatar to, select the avatar, and toggle on the Join with Avatar button. When the meeting time arrives, your avatar will be there, representing you.
That's it! From connecting to Zoom to scheduling meetings on your Google Calendar, you'll be able to send your avatar into live meetings with ease. Now you're ready to add a dynamic, human-like presence to your Zoom calls.
Removing Authorization for HeyGen from your Zoom Account
If you ever want to disconnect HeyGen from your Zoom account, just go to the Interactive Avatar page, click Send to Zoom -> ‘Disconnect Zoom connection.’
The connection will be removed, and your Interactive Avatars will no longer be able to join your Zoom meetings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is an SDK?
An SDK (Software Development Kit) is like a toolkit for developers. It provides the tools and resources needed to build or add features to an app. In this case, Zoom’s SDK helps HeyGen connect and use Zoom’s features, like creating meetings, within our platform.
Why am I being asked to confirm recording the Zoom meeting?
The prompt to record the meeting allows you to review your meeting footage, ensuring your avatar is working correctly and helping you make any needed adjustments. You or the meeting host need to enable this each time it is prompted.
I already have a custom GPT or LLM. How do I connect it to the Interactive Avatar?
As mentioned before, the Interactive Avatar acts as the 'body,' while the instructions come from either the HeyGen Knowledge Base or the Streaming API. If you want to use an existing prompt, you can copy and paste the text into the HeyGen Knowledge Base (only text is supported, no file uploads). Alternatively, a developer can write code to send text from your GPT, LLM, or STT directly to the HeyGen Streaming API.
For how long can I use public and custom interactive avatars on my zoom meetings?
As long as you like! we are currently encouraging our users to use these interactive avatars in a completely free and unlimited way!