In this episode of the Skift Conference Podcast, we dive into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the events industry, while highlighting the enduring importance of human connection.
This episode was recorded live at Event Tech Live London and features a conversation between VOK DAMS Co-CEO Colja Dams and Skift Meetings Editor-in-Chief Miguel Neves.
As CEO of VOK DAMS, Dams brings a unique perspective on how technology can reshape the event experience without compromising its fundamental purpose: bringing people together meaningfully.
This conversation explores the fascinating intersection between cutting-edge AI capabilities and traditional event management principles, touching on everything from attention spans in the age of TikTok to the future of mindful events.
Dams’ insights, drawn from his company’s extensive experience managing thousands of events each year and its recent partnership with Cvent, reveal a nuanced understanding of how artificial intelligence can augment, rather than replace, human expertise in the events industry.
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Attention span and activity design
The shortened attention span of modern audiences is reshaping event formats. Impactful 20-minute talks are replacing longer sessions, while opportunities to delve deeper into content through masterclasses and breakout sessions remain.
Personalized and humanized management
While AI can help with personalization, human curation remains critical. Some events are now offering dedicated coaching experiences to VIP attendees, creating “events within events” to maximize value through human expertise.
data driven decision making
Artificial intelligence and automation are transforming incident management and helping organizations by providing comprehensive data analysis capabilities. These features help make informed decisions based on strategy and learn from successes and failures in past events.
The “Hamburg Model” implemented by artificial intelligence
Successful AI integration requires human input at both ends of the process—initial prompts and final edits—similar to how smartphone photography benefits from human expertise despite its advanced AI capabilities.
The future of mindfulness activities
While digitization continues to evolve, the future of events lies in creating meaningful personal connections. Technology should enhance rather than replace these human interactions, focusing on generating valuable in-person experiences. Dams emphasized that while artificial intelligence and automation are changing event management, the human element remains critical to creating meaningful experiences. The future lies in finding the right balance between technical efficiency and personal style.
