ON TREND
“AI is not going to kill the job of an event manager, but event managers using AI will be the ones being successful in the future.” —Colja Dams
agendas, and recommend sessions for attendees using data from registration. Event names and imagery can be inspired by AI, and the design and decor can be influenced by AI generated photos. Venue layouts can be simulated ahead of an event; Prismm (formerly AllSeated), for example, optimizes seating using data about guest relationships. AI can even craft sponsorship letters and scripts for event teasers. Regarding virtual events, AI can smooth over small streaming glitches, like intelligent framing on a webcast, making speakers appear still when they may be moving around; likewise, AI can work big magic, transcribing videos and providing real-time translations on screen. Trent Waterhouse, CMO of GlobalMeet, says that, along with offering those AI features, the company is close to producing AI technology that can translate languages spoken in real- time, so that an attendee listening to an English speaker could hear the audio in French, for instance. Post-event, AI can help gather event feedback and even create reports. On the office side of things, AI is already becoming popular for the use of marketing and generating sales leads, and it can craft email templates and create promotional social posts. Waterhouse told Special Events that GlobalMeet is also working on AI that can search through transcriptions of videos, so that, instead of searching only documents and spreadsheets for information, event pros will soon be able to search through video content as well. “If we’ve transcribed the video, and
as you build up your library of recorded events overtime...business intelligence now takes your video library as a feed... the video becomes another kind of content.” Currently, the available AI tools can automate, optimize, and streamline event management and office work, giving event pros more time to work on the creative and relational parts of events. Making it a reality With all these tools and functions available, where should you begin? An article from MeetingsNet details seven tips for getting started: 1. Start small by identifying pain points and finding an AI tool to help with that specific problem 2. Go with what you know and explore your existing tech stack for built-in AI tools 3. Find a workhorse—a system that you can use alongside your everyday work (think ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Jasper.ai) 4. Always add the human touch by reviewing and editing generated results 5. Use AI to find other AI 6. Fact check AI by having your chosen AI tool fact check itself 7. Get better prompts by telling it what you want so it can tell you what to ask In an article for Catersource , Footers Catering (Denver, CO) owner Anthony Lambatos recommends asking yourself three questions: Does it improve the guest experience? Does it improve the
This year’s annual VOK DAMS TrendLab focused on how AI
employee experience? What resources are necessary? The answers can help you decide what is necessary and how to focus on real solutions when taking the first steps with AI. What are you waiting for? AI is already taking hold of the events industry, so it’s time to begin working it into your event business. Take this advice from Forbes : “With people returning to conferences and summits en masse, it’s no longer a wise business decision to opt out. At the same time, it’s more important to choose events wisely. AI-equipped technology makes it easy to make smarter decisions backed by data.”
14
SPECIAL EVENTS FALL 2024
Powered by FlippingBook