For older generations, the idea of artificial intelligence may bring up memories of HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey or The Architect in The Matrix. Indeed, AI was nothing more than a sci-fi trope for decades. But in the past several years, machine learning has risen to the forefront of technology.
From meal planning to aerospace engineering, we’ve found ways to use artificial intelligence to solve any number of problems—and this is only the beginning! AI gives event professionals a first-of-its-kind opportunity to streamline operations and save time by delegating work to machines.
“There is so much potential for using AI in your business,” says Kevin Dennis of Fantasy Sound Event Services and WeddingIQ. “From writing email templates to researching hyper-local trends, you can let AI do much of the tedious work and reclaim your time for higher-value tasks. You can also train your team to take on more responsibilities once they’re sharing the load with AI.”
As AI spreads across the industry, check out one of these four online tools to transform how you do business.
ChatGPT
For many, ChatGPT served as a gateway to artificial intelligence. As one of the first AI platforms accessible to the public (and for free!), it introduced the power of machine learning and helped us ease into the idea of AI. And while countless AI programs have surfaced since, ChatGPT continues to provide support through its chatbot interface.
Of course, ChatGPT is not always accurate, so it’s best to use it with care. Since it’s trained to work from a vast dataset from 2021, it’s not built to scour and pull data from the internet and can sometimes offer up outdated information.
Also, use caution to avoid plagiarism when copying and pasting content directly from ChatGPT. For instance, if you ask it to write a blog post for your website, it will pull from existing data and may use language verbatim from another source. Instead, consider using it to generate outlines to write your own original content. You can also use ChatGPT to create social media prompts, produce a list of SEO keywords, write transactional emails, translate content to another language, and so much more.
Midjourney
Another popular (and useful) AI tool, Midjourney is much like ChatGPT but for images. When you input a prompt, it will produce an AI-generated graphic—rather than text—based on your description.
“I love Midjourney as a way to generate photos for idea boards or storyboards,” shares Vijay Goel of Bite Catering Couture. “The ability to take a directional prompt and illustrate an idea visually in a few seconds is incredibly powerful.”
So if a client comes in with a unique request, you can use Midjourney to produce inspirational content that fits the bill—even if you’ve never executed such a thing before.
But Goel cautions users to set realistic expectations of what Midjourney can offer.
“In these early days of the technology, the tools may not understand detailed terminology or produce elements specific to the venue or event, so expect this capability to start high level and develop over time,” he says.
Goel touches on a critical factor in the field of AI: It is still learning. We have only just begun to learn AI’s capabilities, so as it evolves, you can expect more accuracy and enhanced subject matter knowledge for more industry-specific support.
Yoodli
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a speaking coach in your pocket at all times? With Yoodli, you can! Rock Paper Coin’s Elizabeth Sheils has found lots of use in this tool, so we asked her how it works on a professional level.
“If you are in meetings or presenting a lot for your job, Yoodli is an amazing tool that is an AI-powered speech coach (provides private real-time feedback anytime you're on a call–slow down, stop rambling, etc.),” she explains. “They have add-ons to allow for note-taking and provide email follow-ups with text suggestions from your conversation on how to better phrase something next time.”
So if you’re a fast talker or get nervous on a call, Yoodli can be your behind-the-scenes coach keeping you on pace. And since it can provide feedback to improve next time, you’ll become a better communicator just by using it!
Grammarly
Did you know that this popular editing software is built on AI? Grammarly is an intuitive program that checks grammar and spelling, providing suggestions for improvements. It can even help you adjust your tone so that professional email doesn’t sound like it belongs in your group text!
“Grammarly is constantly helping us improve our messaging,” Dennis notes. “If you use the plug-in, it can alert you to typos anywhere on the internet, including your inbox and Google Drive files. When you’re typing quickly, it’s natural to make mistakes—but those mistakes can look unprofessional, so it’s nice to have AI covering our bases.”
If you want to take Grammarly to the next level, its latest feature, GrammarlyGO, uses AI to help generate ideas and content on top of revisions. Try asking it to brainstorm lead magnet ideas or write a job description for a new hire!
As technology evolves, event professionals must adapt to follow suit and grow their businesses. AI stands to change how companies operate at a foundational level, so take advantage of this nascent period and get ahead of the curve!
