The potential uses for the technology and the ways it can streamline the most time-consuming activities are more numerous than we formerly thought possible. Especially within the events space, there is abundant opportunity for innovation and for the integration of AI.

Here are 5 ways AI can help make your next event happen:

1. Graphics & artwork

There is a vast and ever-growing range of generative AI art apps that offer strikingly sophisticated artwork. Far from gimmicky, these apps create original art and graphics that could be used for any of the promotional content or presentations necessary for an upcoming event.

One of the most established apps for AI artwork is OpenAI’s DALL-E 2. While use of the app is not free as many other AI generators are, it is relatively low cost and is able to produce incredibly high-quality art of any style. Even the most obscure and specific of prompts yield a result, and all art is original. In place of stock images or stale pictures from free platforms, the AI apps available create original art that can be directly geared towards your specific needs, style and audience.

2. Presentations & speakers

Audiences usually know what to expect from the presentations and speakers on stage at a conference. While the presenters may differ, the conventions remain in place. The speaker paces the stage, offers a couple of jokes within an eloquent presentation and refers to a slideshow generated by PowerPoint, Slides or Canva.

This is where you can start having some fun with the wide range of AI apps, which are now able to not only reinvigorate slideshows, but stand in place of speakers altogether. Tome is an AI-powered presentation platform. In seconds, it is able to respond to simple prompts and create a full slide-deck with clean aesthetics and layouts. Among many others, Pitch.com and Beautiful.ai are alternatives which offer different capabilities while still streamlining the process of creating presentations. Canva itself is rapidly integrating AI, and is offering many creative aesthetic solutions in its own right.

Beyond slide-decks, AI can now itself conduct the presentation. With many AI programs creating virtual customisable avatars in seconds, apps like D-ID able to turn these into videos and Eleven Labs offering AI-generated human voices, you can create a whole, original professional speaker powered by machines. While human beings will always value other humans as their presenters and collaborators, these opportunities offered by AI are undoubtedly a way of bringing originality and flair to conferences.  

3. Logistics & organisation

While the use of AI for graphics and presentations is impressive, it is the most mundane parts of event preparation that AI does best. Logistics and organisation are among AI’s most fundamental skills, given that they are all about analysing data and optimising processes for efficiency. It can easily assist with tasks like scheduling, budget management and venue and speaker selection, which are often sources of the most inefficiency and friction for event planners.

ReclaimAI is one app which syncs with Google Calendar and organises schedules to optimise productivity. While it is useful for teams and individuals anywhere, it is especially helpful within events planning and management. Able to account for both fixed and flexible events and respond in real time to cancellations and rearrangements, the app finds the most efficient and logical organisation of tasks, saving teams time, money and energy.

Beyond schedule management, MagicalAI is able to automate many of the other tasks required in event planning. For example, as a web browser add-on it can do website scraping on various subjects and automatically develop a spreadsheet. For example, it could gather information on the various speakers you are considering for an event and create a spreadsheet categorising and comparing them.

4. Copy & marketing

Writing the marketing content for an upcoming event is often a highly inefficient process. Despite it being a fairly straightforward task, writing copy can take significant amounts of time. Using programs like ChatGPT means you can achieve in seconds what might take hours for a human, and without the typos.

Beyond simple efficiency, AI can respond automatically and effectively to data related to the event, such as event descriptions, target audience information, previous attendee feedback, and other successful marketing campaigns. From there, it can create promotional emails, social media posts, and website content that resonates with the target audience.

Here is a promotional Instagram caption for an upcoming speakers event that ChatGPT generated in under 3 seconds:

"Get ready for an unforgettable evening of inspiration and wisdom! Join us at our upcoming professional speakers event on [Date]! 

Experience the power of captivating storytelling and thought-provoking insights from top industry leaders and experts. From business visionaries to motivational gurus, our lineup of exceptional speakers will ignite your passion and propel you towards success. 

Expand your network and connect with like-minded individuals, entrepreneurs, and change-makers in one dynamic setting. This event is your opportunity to engage, collaborate, and build lasting connections that can elevate your professional journey. 

Secure your spot now and unlock a world of possibilities. Limited seats available, so don't miss out! Tap the link in our bio to reserve your ticket and join the ranks of the inspired and motivated.

Mark your calendars, gather your tribe, and be part of this transformative experience. We can't wait to see you there! #ProfessionalSpeakersEvent #InspirationUnleashed #UnlockYourPotential"

5. Feedback & improvement

Finally, AI’s ability to analyse and interpret data means the process of gathering feedback and making improvements to events can be optimised. A range of available apps are designed to streamline this process, able to attain feedback from customers or attendees and then deliver recommendations that respond directly to the data analysed. Apps such as GapScout and Kraftful enable processes such as this, with Kraftful even analysing data from competitors in order to make the most effective recommendations.

From the most mundane to the most creative tasks, AI can assist in streamlining and optimising processes, freeing humans up to do what they do best. The ever-growing range of AI apps offers huge opportunity to curious minds across every industry. In the events space, where audiences come expectant for inspiration and innovation, the opportunity is greater still.

Michael McQueen is a trends forecaster, business strategist and award-winning conference speaker.

He features regularly as a commentator on TV and radio and is a bestselling author of 9 books. His most recent book The New Now examines the 10 trends that will dominate a post-COVID world and how to prepare for them now. 

To see Michael speaking live, click here.

For more information on Michael's keynote speaking topics, michaelmcqueen.net/programs.

References

Rispin, C, 2023 The Future of AI for the Events Industry – Chat GPT and the 11,038 other AI Apps, 25 May.