Share this article

Google Meet has introduced a hand gesture detection feature that recognizes when a participant raises their actual hand during a video call.

In order to alert participants in the video call that you have a question, Google introduced a hand gesture detection feature on Google Meet that detects when your actual hand is raised. The AI-powered function was first revealed in March 2023.

According to the company’s most recent blog post, Google Meet only recognizes your hand when it is visible to the camera and needs to be kept apart from your face and body. It might take a few seconds for the gesture detection to start working after you raise your hand. In order for moderators to know that you are requesting to speak, the hand raise icon will first appear in your video window and then you will be moved to the main grid.

The gesture detection feature, which is available with most Google Meet Workspace plans, can be turned on in the settings. It is disabled by default. The reason it’s turned off automatically for active speakers is probably to stop people from accidentally turning on the hand raise icon each time they wave their hands while speaking.

The new feature makes you feel as though you’re back in school, but it’s basically the same as pressing the hand raise button. Apart from nostalgic reasons, there are a number of potential uses for this feature. For example, if you wish to be called on by the host without having to move away from the computer mouse. Alternatively, it’s possible that you answered the phone with unclean hands while eating lunch. (You understand the general idea.)

A portrait touch-up mode was added to Google Meet last month, enabling you to apply eye whitening, under-eye lightening, and complexion smoothing effects.