Human imperfection blows life into events
March of the robots
Look, the robots are coming for us. I don’t think about it as good or bad, more as an inevitability.
Maybe I should be more worried. AI doesn’t suffer middle-aged weariness and impatience bred in the dark of night sweats. It doesn’t have hot flushes, is unfailingly polite and always on call: no issues with work life balance or childcare or a hellish commute there. It comes up with 800 words in the time I write half a sentence. AI doesn’t get annoyed when clients shift boundaries or scope and it doesn’t complain when its work is stolen. It doesn’t ask for promotions. It certainly doesn’t suffer self-doubt and has no imposter syndrome.
Frankly, AI doesn’t give a damn. At least not yet.
That is why the march of the robots is not top of my tossing and turning troubles.
Our human flaws set us apart. Research from FT Strategies and The News Movement shows younger generations trust messages from sources with lived experiences. The journalist and internet content creator Taylor Lorenz recently wrote in Rolling Stone how YouTube and TikTok creators have stopped editing their content, going for a stripped-down look with stumbles and fluffs giving it a sense of reality.
I see a similar trend at industry events.
Sure, technology is indispensable from planning an event to marketing, engagement, managing, networking, tracking and measuring, and analysis. Your event tech stack will personalise and improve the experience for attendees.
Bizzabo’s State of in-person conferences report found that
68.9% of organisers say event software has a major impact on the success of their events
62.9% of attendees say they expect in-person conferences to use modern technology (e.g. wearable event technology)
But no self-check-in kiosk or bumping badge that automatically exchanges contact information will make anyone attend an event.
The tech is not the draw card, it is a tool.
Humans, with their guffaws and gaffes and stories of success and failure are the star attractions. They inspire, share experience and wisdom, and mentor. They argue and disagree. Sometimes they infuriate us.
But they actually give a damn.