AI - THE FUTURE OF EVENT MANAGEMENT

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I live in a Google Household. We've got a GoogleNest, Smart home devices like our thermostat, our doorbell, and even our speakers that are all Google. But we're also an Apple household, everything from our phones, our laptops, and our Apple TV.  Oh, but wait, there's also Alexa alarm clocks in the kids bedrooms.  Ok, ok, so I guess we have multiple devices all over the house.    

What's hilarious, and also sometimes frustrating, is when we get the device names confused and say Hey Google, ... Alexa... Siri... stirring them all up... before finally remembering the right one.  We live in a world surrounded by technology, and it's no longer a myth that these devices watch, listen, record, and learn.  Then use our data for a plethora of reasons.  

Ever heard of the girl that got a hold of her boyfriend's phone, and proceeded to whisper 'Engagement Rings' multiple times? All so that her boyfriend would start getting targeted ads, and get the hint to propose. Sneaky Sneaky, but smart as well. Let's face it, we're valuable data. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is, AI has weaved itself into the very fabric of our lives and is driving transformative changes into a wide range of industries.  

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Curious to whether that includes events, I came across an interesting article by Grit Ludwig titled: The role of AI in event management: opportunities and challenges.

According to the article, in event management, artificial intelligence has the potential to fundamentally change the way events are planned, analyzed, and executed. This article explores the potential applications of AI and event management, and also notes the challenges of implementing AI technologies in the event industry.  Following are some of the ways AI can be used in event management: 

• Personal assistant - by knowing the contents of the system and event platform, the AI can help attendees find the information they need.
• Recommendation system - the AI can use the goals and interests of the participants found during registration, to then make recommendations to them for a personalized experience, and to get the most out of the event.
• Personalized app content - AI can also personalize the content of the event app by analyzing the user's profile, thereby creating a tailored and engaging experience. 
• AI driven event planning and logistics - By analyzing traffic patterns, weather, and attendee feedback, AI can determine optimal event location and times, and minimize logistical challenges.

Photo Courtesy: Adam Zyglis

While AI is bringing remarkable opportunities and investments, it also presents challenges that must be navigated thoughtfully, as indicated by the article:

• Technical challenges - integrating AI technology to existing systems and processes can be a challenge.
• Privacy and security - use of AI can raise some issues, especially when personal data of participant is processed.
• Data quality and management - incomplete or inaccurate data can lead to poor, or even misleading results.

AI and data analytics are already redefining how events can be planned and experienced, and there's more to come. The article hi-lights the endless opportunities for use of AI including personalization, higher automation, and improved data analytics, but also gives us a good insights into the challenges of integrating AI in events.  

Let me know in the comments if this article has inspired you on the future of events.