Beam me up: Google's Project Starline gets a new name and launch window
Google
TL;DR Project Starline is now known as Google Beam.
The communication platform is expected to come to market this year for select customers.
Google is also working on a feature that would provide near real-time speech translation.
It has been a few years, but you may remember when Project Starline was debuted at Google I/O 2021. At the time, it was described as an experiment designed to make it feel like you're in the same room as the person you're videoconferencing with. For Google I/O 2025, the company now has a couple of interesting updates about this remote communication project.
As a refresher, Project Starline is a communication platform that uses various technologies like computer vision, machine learning, spatial audio, and real-time compression to transform a 2D video call into a realistic 3D experience. The best part about it is that this effect is created without the need for a headset or glasses. As Google explains, it uses an AI volumetric video model to turn whoever you're talking to into a photorealistic 3D human model. A light field display is also used to give these 3D models a sense of depth and dimensionality. The demos the tech giant has shown so far look like something taken right out of a sci-fi movie.
Project Starline is now taking a big step from experiment to actual product. Today, Google announced that Project Starline is evolving into Google Beam. The company says it is working with HP to bring the first Google Beam devices to market with select customers later this year. In addition, the firm is also partnering with Zoom, Diversified, and AVI-SPL to bring the technology to businesses around the world.
On top of this news, Google is working on making it easier to have conversations with people who speak different languages. Google says it's exploring adding speech translation to Beam, allowing you to have near real-time translated conversations. This feature doesn't just translate words; it also maintains voice, tone, and expression. Speech translation won't just be for Beam, either, as Google is also bringing the feature to Meet starting today.
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