What is the value of live events?
The value of live events comes down to one thing: real people.
I am not an expert in AI, but I am an expert at covering live events and in my career as an event and conference photographer I have documented and helped to showcase hundreds of events. As AI seeps into many creative and business fields, it becomes harder to determine if many kinds of knowledge-based output are human created or AI generated, or as with this post and probably everything you now read and see online, a blend of both. Images, videos, writing, code, design...AI is - or is soon to be - built into almost everything humans do. This will hopefully raise productivity and free up people to do the one thing AI cannot supplant: meet and connect in real time, physically, with other human beings.
Observing, documenting and highlighting the importance and value of these human-to-human connections is the core skill of a good event photographer. Having spent the better part of two decades seeking out and focusing on moments of genuine human connection, I have gained a kind of sixth-sense when it comes to identifying and intuiting moments of human emotion almost as if I have x-ray vision when scanning a crowd.
One thing I have learned, whether it is a global conference or an intimate corporate retreat, the single most important aspect of attending an event is not the content, the speaker roster, or the location: it is the connection people make with each other. And while these connections can be facilitated by AI powered tools, the actual spark of connectivity can only occur in the real presence of each other.
In other words, the value of live events may well prove to be that they are immune to AI.
The "ghost in the machine"
In 1981, one of my favourite bands, The Police, released their fourth studio album called Ghost in the Machine. The leading track, "Spirits in the Material World" is as relevant now as it was then, with its critique of political systems, materialism and the failure of traditional structures to solve humanity's deeper problems. The key message of the song is that humans are more than just physical or material entities that can be acted upon and directed, programmed and deployed, and implies that there is something deeper and ineffable within human beings that holds the key to unlocking problems faced by human systems. Today, as society becomes increasingly shaped by algorithms and AI-directed systems of surveillance and control, we've become the ghosts in the machine.
And this is where the growing importance and value of live events becomes clear.
In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping countless industries, including those in the creative sector, the question arises: what's the future of live events? Despite AI's encroachment into areas like music production, visual arts, and even writing, there remains a significant case for the irreplaceable human touch in live event experiences, especially regarding documentation and professional photography. Here's why live events continue to hold a unique place in our culture and how AI can enhance, rather than replace, these experiences.
The Human Element in Live Event Photography:
- Authenticity and Emotion:
- Live events are charged with real human emotion—joy, surprise, curiosity, connection—which professional photographers capture in ways AI currently cannot. The spontaneity of a moment, the genuine smiles, or tears of joy during a performance or speech, require an empathetic eye to document effectively.
- Artistic Vision:
- Photography at live events is not just about capturing images but about storytelling through a series of shots. Professional photographers bring artistic vision and creativity, deciding on angles, lighting, and moments that AI might overlook or misinterpret based on its programming.
- Adaptability:
- The dynamic nature of live events means that plans change; a professional can adapt to new lighting, sudden movements, or unexpected happenings. AI lacks this real-time decision-making ability, often relying on pre-set parameters which might not align with the event's real-time evolution.
- Interaction and Engagement:
- Photographers can engage with attendees, providing direction or capturing candid moments through interaction. This human touch fosters a connection that goes beyond the technical capture of an image.
- Cultural Nuance:
- Understanding cultural contexts or specific event nuances requires human insight. A photographer can discern what's significant or culturally sensitive in a way that AI might not.
How AI Enhances Live Events
While AI may not replace the need for professional photographers at live events, it can significantly elevate the overall experience. Of course, good event planning is key to overall success and below are some tools that are increasingly likely to be part of the professional event planner's toolkit:
- Enhanced Audio-Visual Experiences:
- AI can analyze audience reactions to dynamically adjust lighting, sound, or visual elements during conferences or performances, ensuring optimal engagement.
- Automated Content Creation:
- For corporate meetings, AI can generate real-time summaries, key takeaways, or even social media snippets from speeches or presentations, enhancing post-event engagement.
- Personalized Attendee Experiences:
- At gala events or conferences, AI can tailor the experience for each attendee by suggesting networking opportunities, recommending sessions based on interests, or even customizing entertainment based on crowd demographics.
- Efficient Event Management:
- AI can help manage logistics, from optimizing seating arrangements for maximum interaction at conferences to predicting crowd flow for safety and comfort at large events.
- Virtual and Augmented Reality Integration:
- AI can enhance events by integrating VR or AR, allowing for virtual attendees to have a rich, interactive experience or adding layers of information or interaction for those physically present, like interactive maps or historical overlays at a gala.
The essence of live events lies in their authenticity and human connection, aspects where AI falls short. Professional photography at these events captures this essence in a way that AI cannot replicate. However, AI's role is not to supplant but to augment, offering new dimensions of interaction, efficiency, and personalization. As we move forward, the synergy between human creativity and AI technology can create more immersive, engaging, and memorable event experiences, ensuring that live events continue to thrive in our increasingly digital world.
*Disclaimer: this content is a blend of Ai-generated content (the bullet points in both sections above) and original creative content produced by a real human - me. The photos are all taken by me from live events in 2024 and are not digitally altered or transformed.