Kinly’s Head of Global Services, Jody Moffat, explores the powerful and practical applications of AI that are enhancing user experiences today – and what organisations should know when investing in this transformative technology.
Artificial Intelligence. It’s been the hottest topic of 2024 — and for good reason. It has the potential to not only reshape the way AV professionals work, but also improve the quality of the experience for workers and end-users alike.
But so much of the conversation around AI is centered on what it may look like in the future, when it’s already providing so much value here in the present. From personalised user experiences to seamless automation, AI is playing an increasingly pivotal role in the evolution of the AV industry.
With that said, this blog will focus on the here and now — shifting the focus towards how AI’s current use cases are impacting AV and what organisations need to know when investing in this technology.
One of AI’s most powerful use cases within AV relates to personalisation. When integrated with AI, AV systems offer highly personalised experiences tailored to individual preferences. In corporate environments, this means that settings such as audio levels, lighting and temperature control are adapted automatically to match the specific needs of different users.
As systems learn about the users’ habits over time, this level of personalisation will become more detailed. For example, AI can automatically optimise meeting room setups based on historical data, ensuring that each session starts with the ideal settings for the participants involved.
Famously, AI’s greatest benefit is saving people time, ultimately freeing them up to focus on higher-level tasks that demand creativity and problem-solving.
At its most basic level, AI automates the more mundane responsibilities, particularly when it comes to minor administrative tasks. But it’s also capable of tackling complex tasks as well. One example is real-time speech recognition and translation, facilitating smoother international collaboration by breaking down language barriers and enabling cross-border teams to work together seamlessly.
Automation on a more complex level has been pivotal in supporting the growth of AV offerings like Events-as-a-Service, particularly now that virtual and hybrid events have become the norm. AI tools are now integral to delivering high-quality, immersive virtual events that rival their in-person counterparts.
By automating functions like content processing and optimisation, digital environment creation and real-time feedback management, AI-powered platforms can reduce planning time by up to 30 per cent. This allows event teams to focus on creating memorable experiences without being bogged down by logistics.
Despite AI’s growing role in automating tasks and enhancing efficiency, there are still critical aspects of the AV industry that still — and always will — require human expertise.
Building strong customer relationships and creative design are prime examples of where AI cannot fully replace the human touch. While AI can handle administrative functions like directing customers to the right person or automating meeting setups, those personal interactions in customer service and business relationships remain irreplaceable.
Fundamentally, AI should be viewed as a tool that enhances and compliments these human-centric processes rather than replacing them.
As we look ahead, AI will continue to revolutionise the AV landscape, enabling teams to deliver more personalised, efficient and engaging experiences for users worldwide. But organisations need to strike the right balance. Success is only possible when AI and people are working in tandem, allowing the strengths of both parties to shine.