Live Events In The Era of AI

0:02 So Sean, we are talking about events, live events in the era of AI.

0:14 Yeah, I have 4 questions for you.

0:18 But before we kick off, I just want to read something that during my consultation with AI was kind of shared with me.

0:32 So AI will give us the tools, but only humans can provide the heart.

0:38 Because at the end of the day, no matter how smart AI gets, it will never know what it feels to truly exhibit happy.

0:48 And I really love that.

0:51 So I was thinking that could kind of kick off our conversation that that set up.

0:57 I think a lot of people are thinking about AI in that way.

1:00 I mean, it clearly can help us do a number of things exponentially faster, better.

1:10 And but that that's always, that's what everyone's talked about, some with concerns, some with a great deal of excitement.

1:16 Is that what does that do to the human condition?

1:19 And of course, with events, we're at the forefront of that.

1:22 So that it.

1:23 Yeah, it's happening all around us.

1:24 Yeah, OK, cool.

1:26 I have 4 specific questions, so let me start with the first question.

1:30 So if AI can now predict exactly where attendees should walk and what they should see, does that make our job as event designers easier or more difficult?

1:48 I think, well, there's an opportunity there.

1:50 First of all, for AI to predict things like traffic flow, you have to give it sets of data, right?

1:56 So you have to use other, other technologies, RFID tracking, heat mapping, things like that, that while when collected could then help to inform the decision, right, that designers then would use that to determine the placement and the, the journey of, of the attendees.

2:18 So again, I think, I think it's, it could, it could significantly impact the quality of the design when we use the information that is available, we run it through AI models for sure.

2:33 Cool, I like that answer.

2:35 OK, great.

2:35 So question #2 as AI makes digital interactions indistinguishable from human ones, does physical trade show remain the sanctuary of authentic human energy?

2:52 Yeah, I I think that's part of the silver lining.

2:55 We learned of COVID, right, Is without the face to face event.

2:59 You know, we, we, we were really yearning for it.

3:02 So by the time that they came back, it really re established the value of a real human connection.

3:09 And again, I think AI and, and, and a lot of these other technologies can go a great distance to enhance the, the, the human to human interaction.

3:19 But there is no replacement.

3:21 And so I, I think that I don't think we have to make a false choice between 1:00 or the other.

3:26 I think an integration of, of the technologies in a live environment is where is where it's at for sure.

3:32 The secret sauce.

3:34 OK, question #3 if AI can perfectly curate who we should meet and what we should see, are we in danger of losing the serendipitous meeting that is often offered at live events?

3:52 Yeah, I think we are.

3:54 I think you can't talk about AI purely as doom and gloom or purely as some Pollyanna, right?

4:02 I mean, there are some risk factors associated with it.

4:06 And so do I know exactly what they are?

4:09 No, but I know that that some do exist.

4:12 And I think you can just take a logical approach as to where you know, some of the more negative things might, might pop up.

4:19 But again, I, I, I think it's just about using it to, to the other thing is it changes.

4:25 We're sitting here talking in early 2026.

4:28 If we were to talk six months ago, the models are different.

4:32 I mean, they're even more powerful today.

4:34 So this chat probably won't age that well.

4:40 OK, yeah, let's get it online by we'll have to do this again in two months.

4:46 Totally.

4:47 OK, last question.

4:49 So when AI can generate an infinite number of exhibit designs in seconds, in moments, does the role of the human designer shift from creator to curator of meaning?

5:08 Yeah.

5:09 You know, we've talked a lot about this with our creative department.

5:12 Just from my opinion, just to say, hey, expect expect clients to come with their own designs now because it's so easy, right?

5:22 And so I think they're great for inspiration.

5:26 But we still live in a built environment world.

5:30 We have to build these things and we have to build these things within the constraints of what trade show trade shows and events allow.

5:39 And there are constraints and we've talked about them a lot, you know, with our talks before, they also drive cost.

5:47 And so cure, I don't think it's just about going to be about going out and making that, that AI generated design happen, because I still think you, there's a number of design build trade-offs with respect to execution and the budget that have to be managed.

6:04 And so I think again, here's another example where AI can really supercharge a creative department.

6:10 We can generate ideas very, very quickly, very, very efficiently and get those out there as idea food to the clients.

6:18 But we still have to execute on these things and we have to build them.

6:23 And so it it's, it's easy to generate an image.

6:26 It's far more challenging to really deliver and execute on a design from concept to creation.

6:34 Yeah.

6:36 OK.

6:37 So on that note, I will ask you these same questions again in two months and see and see if your answers change.

6:45 Yeah, we'll revisit all of this and figure out that none of what we said is correct.

6:50 OK, right on.

6:51 Well, have a beautiful day and thank you for your time.

6:53 All right, take care.

6:55 Bye.