Avatars at Events: Gimmick or game-changer?
How AI-Powered Digital Clones Will Transform Conferences Forever
“Digital versions of ourselves? AI avatars leading events?” My initial reaction to this was simple: “What a bunch of malarky!”
But progress does not allow for old hacks with dated opinions. Not least when it comes to the evolution of tech in media marketing. It’s time to let the proverbial avatars out of the closet.
Earlier this week I attended an AI Marketing Trends 2025 Masterclass with MCC Learning. A long-term sceptic when it comes to marketing and marketing speak – is it art, is it science, is it bs*t? I did scoff slightly when presenters, Peter Rees and Imran Farooq, asked attendees to acknowledge the moment they had a ‘light bulb moment’. But then it happened. They demonstrated their experiments with AI avatars.
In their presentation, the focus was mainly on how AI avatars can help scale business and marketing in the areas of education, internal training projects, and certain aspects of the customer journey. So far, standard marketing talk. But then Imran shared a video of him in conversation with an Avatar on a Zoom call. The avatar was seamlessly responsive to questions, well-trained, and adaptive, providing guidance for decision-making.
The potential lit up like a Christmas tree. I immediately envisaged how this technology could enhance the events industry, and not in some far-off, sci-fi future but right now. Avatars aren’t just a novelty; they can transform how attendees engage, how events are structured, and even how content is delivered.
Instinctively I started going through a range of ‘what if’ moments.
What if:
Attendees create digital versions of themselves that make networking easier? Imagine walking into a conference and instantly being matched with people who share your interests. AI-powered icebreakers that eliminate awkward introductions. You will get straight to meaningful - human - connections.
Attendees could access a personal AI avatar assistant via their phone or event app to help navigate the venue, find sessions, or suggest relevant networking opportunities?
Avatars could provide real-time translation in various languages, ensuring accessibility for global audiences? Then you could watch a keynote speaker while an AI avatar on your phone lip-syncs in your preferred language.
Sponsors get creative with branded avatars and virtual booths, giving attendees new ways to engage beyond the usual event swag bag?
A speaker can be everywhere all at once when an AI-generated avatar delivers a keynote in their place, ensuring more dynamic, scalable content?
Your event avatars provide personalised recaps of keynotes, panels, and Q&As, tailored to your interests, just in case you missed something, or nodded off after lunch?
Your event avatars continue networking in online forums or future events, keeping the community alive long after the closing session?
Your event avatars evolve, remembering past interactions, helping you reconnect with contacts, and tracking your learning journey across multiple conferences?
In essence, it would be like having several clones, but less awkward, more efficient clones doing the heavy lifting and adding value for you.
So here’s the rub. These are no longer ‘what ifs’. These avatars are already here, and they will become as commonplace at events as the mandatory name badges, lanyards, and weak coffee.
If anything the question isn’t what if, it’s how ready are we to embrace it?