Video conferencing rooms are on the verge of their biggest transformation since the arrival of HD displays. Google Beam, formerly known as Project Starline, represents a major breakthrough in remote communication. This 3D video conferencing system is designed to recreate the feeling of sitting in the same room as the person you are speaking with, without requiring a headset or special glasses.
Since its debut at Google I/O 2021, the technology has evolved considerably. In May 2025, Google officially launched the commercial platform, marking its shift from an experimental research project to a fully developed enterprise product.
The first commercial device, the HP Dimension with Google Beam, was unveiled at InfoComm 2025, with general availability expected in late 2025.
At the heart of Google Beam is an impressive hardware system. Six high-speed cameras are positioned around a 65-inch display, capturing the user simultaneously from multiple angles to create a complete volumetric model.
This multi-angle capture enables Google’s AI to reconstruct a highly realistic 3D representation. The cameras operate at 60 frames per second, ensuring fluid motion and natural facial expressions.
The standout feature is the 65-inch 8K light field display. Unlike traditional 3D screens that require glasses, this technology directs light differently to each eye, creating a natural sense of depth and dimension.
The system also includes precise head tracking. It continuously adjusts the image perspective in real time, maintaining the illusion of physical presence even if the user shifts slightly. Google reports millimeter-level head tracking accuracy while streaming at 60 frames per second.
AI is what makes Google Beam possible. Google’s volumetric video model converts standard 2D video streams into immersive 3D experiences. All processing takes place in Google Cloud, leveraging the company’s powerful infrastructure.
But this goes beyond simple 3D rendering. The AI preserves the subtle details that matter in human interaction, including genuine eye contact, micro-expressions, and natural skin tone variations. These nuances, often lost in standard video calls, become clearly visible with Google Beam.
Google conducted extensive research to measure the system’s impact.
Participants showed a 28 percent improvement in conversation recall, based on how much information they retained afterward. This boost in memory is likely linked to higher engagement during 3D interactions.
Nonverbal communication also increased significantly. Users displayed 43 percent more hand gestures, 26 percent more nods, and 49 percent more eyebrow movements. These results suggest that people naturally return to more authentic behavior compared to traditional video calls, where subtle gestures are often muted.
Beyond verbal exchange, Google Beam improves attentiveness. Testing showed at least a 14 percent increase in focus on the person speaking. Greater attention leads to richer conversations and faster decisions.
Virtual meeting fatigue, widely discussed since the pandemic, also appears to decrease. Users report feeling less mentally drained after extended sessions, likely because the experience feels closer to a face-to-face interaction.
For audiovisual integration professionals, Google Beam raises important practical questions. The system requires specific infrastructure and must fit seamlessly into existing environments.
Room layout is the first consideration. Google Beam works best in small to medium meeting rooms, especially huddle spaces. While the 65-inch display is not oversized, it still requires careful positioning and an appropriate viewing distance.
One of Google Beam’s strengths is its compatibility with existing collaboration tools. It natively supports Google Meet and Zoom Rooms, with announced interoperability for Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex. This flexibility simplifies deployment within established communication ecosystems.
In practical terms, organizations do not need to replace their entire conferencing infrastructure. Google Beam can operate alongside traditional systems as a premium option for high-stakes interactions such as executive meetings, strategic hiring interviews, or key client discussions.
Because processing occurs in the cloud, network requirements are significant. The system sends six simultaneous video streams to Google’s servers and receives a reconstructed 3D stream in return. A strong, symmetrical internet connection is essential.
Proper quality of service configuration is also important to prioritize Google Beam traffic and ensure consistent performance during peak usage.
Audio plays a critical role in the experience. Google Beam includes a spatial audio system with twelve microphones capturing sound in three dimensions, while the speaker setup recreates realistic audio positioning.
HP complements the system with the Poly Studio A2, which features scalable tabletop microphones and an audio bridge. Designed specifically for Google Beam environments, these components deliver professional audio quality with AI-driven noise reduction.
Google Beam is particularly valuable in scenarios where communication quality directly affects outcomes. Distributed leadership teams can hold strategic discussions with a level of interaction that closely mirrors in-person meetings.
Sensitive conversations benefit the most. Negotiations, conflict resolution, and critical announcements become more effective when participants can clearly read body language and micro-expressions.
Hiring is another strong use case. HR teams can assess remote candidates with far greater accuracy than through standard video interviews. Observing posture, confidence, and emotional responsiveness adds depth to the evaluation process.
Early adopters include major organizations such as Deloitte, Salesforce, and Citadel, which are exploring the technology for recruitment and talent management.
Healthcare providers like Hackensack Meridian Health are testing Google Beam for advanced telemedicine. For consultations requiring detailed visual assessment, the system offers significant advantages.
Physicians can better observe overall condition, subtle expressions of discomfort, and visible clinical indicators. This enhanced visual clarity strengthens remote care without sacrificing physical distance.
In education, companies such as Duolingo are experimenting with Google Beam. Language instruction can especially benefit from the system’s expressive richness. Tutors can refine pronunciation, facial cues, and body language with remarkable precision.
Technical training also gains value. Instructors can demonstrate complex procedures, guide hands-on tasks, and provide visual feedback with far more clarity than standard video calls allow.
The HP Dimension with Google Beam is priced at 24,999 dollars for hardware alone. This firmly places it in the high-end enterprise segment, making it inaccessible to most small businesses and individuals for now.
The price does not include the Google Beam license, which is sold separately. While licensing costs have not been publicly disclosed, the model resembles enterprise SaaS solutions with upfront hardware investment and recurring cloud subscription fees.
Connecting two locations requires a starting investment of roughly 50,000 dollars, plus licensing.
The primary justification lies in travel reduction. For companies whose executives regularly fly internationally in business class, savings can accumulate quickly. Avoiding ten intercontinental business trips could effectively offset the cost.
Indirect benefits also matter. Faster decision-making, less travel fatigue, reduced carbon footprint, and improved employee well-being all contribute value, even if they are harder to quantify.
The initial launch covers six countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan, with availability expected in late 2025. This phased approach allows Google and HP to manage deployment carefully and provide strong customer support.
At present, Google Beam supports only one-on-one interactions. Group meetings still require traditional video conferencing systems.
Displaying multiple participants in realistic 3D on a 65-inch light field display presents significant technical challenges. As a result, Google Beam serves as a complement rather than a replacement for existing group conferencing solutions.
Both participants must have compatible equipment to experience the full 3D effect. This symmetrical requirement limits broader deployment scenarios.
Organizations must identify locations where frequent, high-value interactions justify installing the system at both ends. While asymmetrical connections are possible, the 3D advantage is diminished for users on standard devices.
Users need to remain within the camera capture zone for optimal results. Those who tend to move around during calls may need to adjust slightly.
Some individuals may initially feel self-conscious being recorded by multiple cameras. Early feedback suggests this feeling fades quickly as the immersive experience takes over.
Google plans to integrate real-time voice translation into Google Beam. Already available in Google Meet for certain languages, this feature maintains the speaker’s natural voice and tone while translating content.
For global organizations, the impact could be substantial. Teams speaking different languages may collaborate more naturally, with emotional nuance preserved across translations.
Achieving real-time translation while maintaining lip sync and facial expression alignment presents technical challenges. Google is reportedly developing AI solutions capable of maintaining audiovisual consistency.
Strategic meetings between executives who each speak their native language while fully understanding each other are becoming increasingly realistic.
As with most emerging technologies, costs are likely to decrease as production scales. Displays, sensors, and cameras typically become more affordable over time.
Between 2027 and 2030, more compact and affordable versions may appear, potentially targeting mid-sized businesses or premium home offices. Smaller display formats could expand installation possibilities.
Expanding from one-on-one calls to group meetings will be a critical next step. While no official timeline has been announced, it is a logical evolution.
Achieving this will require careful interface design to prevent visual clutter and maintain realism when multiple participants share a single 3D display.
Future versions may incorporate advanced AI capabilities such as automatic transcription with speaker identification, multi-language translation within the same meeting, and engagement analytics.
Virtual assistants could provide contextual insights, surface relevant documents, and track action items in real time.
If immersive communication becomes mainstream, distributed work models could expand even further. High-quality remote interaction may reduce the need for physical presence in many roles.
Organizations could recruit globally while maintaining strong collaboration. Office space requirements might shrink without sacrificing culture or cohesion.
Google Beam is the commercial evolution of Project Starline, the original research initiative. The name change reflects the shift from an experimental prototype to a market-ready enterprise product. The underlying technology remains the same, but the system has been refined, scaled down, and packaged for real-world deployment.
No. One of Google Beam’s main advantages is that it requires no wearable equipment. The system uses a light field display to create a 3D effect without glasses. You simply sit in front of the screen, just as you would for a standard video call, and experience the three-dimensional effect automatically.
Yes. Google Beam natively supports Google Meet and Zoom Rooms. Interoperability with Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex has also been announced, allowing organizations to integrate it into their existing communications infrastructure. This level of compatibility is key for enterprise adoption.
Google has not publicly disclosed the exact bandwidth requirements. However, since the system sends six simultaneous video streams to the cloud for processing and receives a reconstructed 3D stream in return, a professional-grade fiber connection is strongly recommended. Integrators estimate that a symmetrical connection of at least 100 Mbps is a reasonable baseline.
The HP Dimension hardware is priced at 24,999 dollars, with the Google Beam license sold separately. The exact cost of the license has not been made public and likely varies depending on enterprise agreements. To connect two sites, the starting investment is therefore around 50,000 dollars, plus ongoing licensing fees.
Not in its current form. Google Beam is designed for one-on-one conversations and does not yet support group meetings. In addition, the cost and requirement for compatible equipment at both ends limit its use to high-value scenarios. Traditional video conferencing remains essential for group meetings, spontaneous calls, and communication with external participants.
Several major organizations are part of the initial deployment program, including Deloitte, Salesforce, Citadel, NEC, Hackensack Meridian Health, Duolingo, and Recruit. These early adopters are testing the technology across a range of use cases, from executive meetings to specialized medical consultations.
Google Beam sessions pass through Google’s cloud servers for the AI processing required to generate the 3D experience. Data privacy and retention policies follow Google Cloud’s enterprise standards. Organizations with strict confidentiality requirements should carefully review service agreements and may choose to negotiate specific terms regarding data location and retention periods.
The interface is similar to Google Meet or Zoom, which keeps the learning curve minimal. Users mainly need to understand how to position themselves correctly within the camera capture zone and adjust their posture or movements to get the best 3D experience. HP and Google provide documentation, training materials, and technical support to help organizations during deployment.
Google Beam marks a meaningful step forward in enterprise communication. Research indicates measurable improvements in memory retention, engagement, and nonverbal interaction.
Important questions remain around pricing, scalability, and group functionality. However, with HP’s hardware expertise and integration into the Google Cloud ecosystem, Google Beam is well positioned to shape the future of immersive collaboration.