Introduction:
Artificial Intelligence is a rapidly developing technology that has the potential to transform many industries, including the event and festival industry. AI is defined as “the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behaviour” (Ergen, 2020, p. 1). AI has the potential to revolutionize the way events are planned and managed, making it easier, faster, and more efficient. his paper aims to provide an overview of AI in the event and festival industry, analyse its current state, examine the challenges and opportunities for event management using AI, evaluate its future role in supporting the event and festival industry, and explore the ethical issues surrounding the use of AI in this industry. Furthermore, this paper provides a list of 35 current AI software and websites that event managers can use today to improve the efficiency and quality of their events.
Current State of AI in the Event and Festival Industry:
The use of AI in the event and festival industry is still in its initial stages, but its potential to transform the industry is already apparent. According to Ergen (2020), AI applications for event management and marketing can be grouped into four categories: event planning and management, attendee engagement, marketing and advertising, and post-event analysis. These categories demonstrate the diverse ways in which AI can be used in the event and festival industry.
Challenges and Opportunities for Event Management Using AI:
While AI has the potential to transform the event and festival industry, there are also challenges that need to be addressed. One of the main challenges is the issue of data privacy and security. The use of AI requires substantial amounts of data to be collected, processed, and stored, and this data must be protected from unauthorized access and misuse. Additionally, there are ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI, such as the potential for AI to make decisions that could negatively impact attendees (Türkmendağ, 2022).
According to a recent study by Forbes, the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the events industry has raised concerns about its impact on the overall customer experience. While AI can automate repetitive tasks and enhance the efficiency of event planning and execution, it can also lead to a reduction in the personal touch and human interaction that is essential to creating memorable experiences for attendees. The study highlights the importance of finding a balance between utilizing AI to improve operational efficiency and maintaining the human touch that drives customer satisfaction and loyalty. In the event industry, where personal connections and emotional engagement are key to creating a memorable experience, it is crucial to consider the impact of AI on the customer experience and ensure that it enhances, rather than detracts from, the overall event experience.
Despite these challenges, there are also many opportunities for event management using AI. AI can automate many tasks, such as venue selection, attendee registration, and post-event analysis, freeing up event managers to focus on other aspects of event planning and management. AI can also provide valuable insights into attendee behaviour and preferences, helping event managers to make data-driven decisions (Türkmendağ, 2022).
Future Role of AI in Supporting the Event and Festival Industry:
The future role of AI in supporting the event and festival industry is expected to be significant. AI has the potential to revolutionize the way events are planned and managed, making it easier, faster, and more efficient. AI can also provide valuable insights into attendee behaviour and preferences, helping event managers to make data-driven decisions. Furthermore, AI can help event managers to better understand the impact of events on the local community and environment, and make data-driven decisions to minimize their impact (Türkmendağ, 2022).
Here are some practical examples of how the AI software and websites listed above can help event managers improve the efficiency and quality of their events:
Attendify: An AI-powered event management platform that can analyse attendee behaviour and provide insights to help event managers make data-driven decisions (https://attendify.com/)
Aventri: AI-powered event management software that can automatically suggest the best venues and locations based on event requirements and budget. (https://www.aventri.com/)
Beatoven’s AI can be used to create unique music for the event, which can be used as background music or as part of a performance. https://www.beatoven.ai/
Bizzabo: An AI-powered event platform that can provide personalized event recommendations based on the attendee’s interests and behaviour. (https://www.bizzabo.com/)
Certain: AI-powered event management software that can provide real-time, personalized recommendations for attendees based on their interests and behaviour. (https://www.certain.com/)
Cleanup.pictures’ AI can be used to remove unwanted objects, defects, people, or text from event photos. https://cleanup.pictures/
Cleanvoice’s AI can be used to automatically edit podcast episodes, which can be used to promote the event or showcase interviews with participants. https://cleanvoice.ai/
Copy.ai’s AI can be used to generate copy for event websites, advertisements, and other promotional materials. https://www.copy.ai/
Copymonkey’s AI can be used to create Amazon listings for event tickets and merchandise. https://copymonkey.ai/
Cvent: AI-powered event management software that can automatically suggest the best venues and locations based on event requirements and budget. Cvent https://www.cvent.com/en
DALL-E 2’s AI can be used to generate images and text for event promotions and marketing materials. https://openai.com/dall-e-2/
Descript’s AI can be used to create video and podcasts for the event. https://www.descript.com/
Eventbrite: AI-powered event management software that can analyse attendee behaviour and provide insights to help event managers make data-driven decisions (https://www.eventbrite.com/
Flair’s AI can be used to design branded content for the event, such as flyers, posters, and social media graphics. https://flair.ai/
Inkforall’s AI can be used for AI content generation, optimization, and performance. https://inkforall.com/
Konf: AI-powered event management software that can provide personalized recommendations for attendees based on their interests and behaviour. Konf (https://konf.io/)
Krisp’s AI can be used by the event manager to remove background noises or echo during conference calls, video calls, and other important meetings. https://krisp.ai/
Looka’s AI can be used to design the event’s brand, including logos, color schemes, and typography.
Maverick’s AI can be used to generate personalized videos, which can be used to promote the event or showcase attendees’ experiences. https://looka.com
NeRF is a machine learning model for 3D scene representation that can benefit the event industry by enabling virtual event spaces that are interactive and immersive for attendees. It can also reduce production and design costs.. https://datagen.tech/
Ocoya’s AI can be used to create and schedule social media content, which can be used to promote the event or keep attendees informed. https://www.ocoya.com
Otter’s AI can be used to capture and share insights from event meetings. https://otter.ai/
Patterned’s AI can be used to generate patterns for event decorations or designs. https://www.patterned.ai/
Picatic: An AI-powered event management platform that can analyse attendee behaviour and provide insights to help event managers make data-driven decisions. (https://www.picatic.com/)
Podcastle’s AI can be used to record high-quality audio for podcast episodes, which can be used to promote the event or showcase interviews with participants. https://podcastle.ai/
Puzzlelabs’ AI-powered knowledge base can be used to provide answers to frequently asked questions and provide information to attendees. https://puzzlelabs.ai/
Quickchat’s AI chatbots can be used to automate customer service chats and provide quick answers to attendees’ questions. https://www.quickchat.ai/
RegFox: An AI-powered registration platform that can automatically match attendees with the best-suited sessions based on their interests and behaviour. https://regfox.com/
Soundraw’s AI can be used to search for the perfect song for the event, which can be used as background music or as part of a performance. https://soundraw.io/
Stockimg’s AI can be used to find the perfect stock photo for event promotions and marketing materials. https://stockimg.ai
Synthesia’s AI can be used to create AI videos by simply typing in text, which can be used to promote the event or showcase highlights. https://www.synthesia.io
Unbounce’s AI can be used to write high-performing cold emails, which can be used to promote the event or reach out to potential attendees. https://unbounce.com/
Vidyo AI enhances virtual events with AI features for better audio and visual quality, improving the attendee experience, and allowing for effective event management. https://www.vidyo.com/
Whova: AI-powered event management software that can provide real-time, personalized recommendations for attendees based on their interests and behaviour. https://whova.com/
Ethical Issues Surrounding the Use of AI in the Event and Festival Industry:
The use of AI in the event and festival industry raises several ethical issues. For example, AI can be used to make decisions that could negatively impact attendees, such as the selection of venues and locations. Additionally, the use of AI requires substantial amounts of data to be collected, processed and stored, and this data must be protected from unauthorized access and misuse (Türkmendağ, 2022).
Conclusion:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been gradually making its way into the event and festival industry, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that it has the potential to revolutionize the way events are planned and managed. AI can help event managers and festival organizers overcome many of the challenges they face by improving efficiency and reducing costs but should not come at the cost of the customer experience. It can also provide a more personalized and engaging experience for attendees. However, it is essential to consider the ethical implications of using AI in the event and festival industry, particularly regarding data privacy and fairness.
In conclusion, while AI has the potential to transform the event and festival industry, it is important to carefully consider its impact and ensure that it is used in an ethical and responsible manner. Event managers and festival organizers should take advantage of the various AI tools and applications that are currently available and continue to explore new ways to incorporate AI into their events.
Reference:
Ergen, F. D. (2020). Artificial Intelligence Applications for Event Management and Marketing. Sustainability, 12(24), 12525. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-020-00433-4
Doğanay Ergen, F. (2020). Artificial Intelligence Applications for Event Management and Marketing. In Tourism Management Perspectives (pp. 1-11). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-020-00433-4
Social Network Analysis of COVID-19 Sentiments: Application of Artificial Intelligence. (2020). Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(8), e22590. https://www.jmir.org/2020/8/e22590
Türkmendağ, U. (2022). Technology Use and Innovation Strategies in Event Tourism. International Journal of Information Management, 55, 102490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.10249
