3 TECH TOOLS FOR PLANNERS

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, but not the type you have most likely interacted with before now. The ‘intelligence’ factor is apparent in how ChatGPT – or Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer – can “answer follow-up questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises and reject inappropriate requests,” writes OpenAI, the AI research and deployment company who created ChatGPT. ChatGPT is currently being used and tested by anyone who wants to (and you too can have a go, at chat.openai.com). Many event planners might already be finding it useful as a tool to help write rough drafts on all kinds of content in a matter of seconds. But InEvent has also been quick to integrate ChatGPT into its professional eventing software.

InEvent shares, “We have activated ChatGPT in all touchpoints on the InEvent Platforms – marketing communications, website, landing pages and virtual lobby. Now, you can generate all the communication materials for your event from the world’s most talked about conversational AI.” (Hello, future!)

Did you know facial recognition technology for events is available here in South Africa?

Zenus arrived on our shores at the end of 2021, offering several products for event organisers, exhibitors and retailers – including ethical facial recognition software for event check-ins, time attendance, access control and visitor management.

Their smart cameras can also be used for facial analysis, to gather data on attendee numbers, gender, age and sentiment over time, and with 95% accuracy. This analysis is done automatically without needing to collect any personal data.

If you’re wondering how the ‘ethical’ aspect of this works, Zenus has a strict privacy policy. When using facial analysis to collect aggregate level (group) statistics, the data is anonymous and consent is not required. However, they do advise that you disclose the use of video analytics.

When using facial recognition – e.g. for event check-ins – it’s a different matter. You are processing personally identifiable information and people must give explicit permission for you to use it on them, beforehand. An alternative option must be available for those who opt out, and everyone should be able to opt out and delete their data at any time.

Zenus adds that personal data should only be used for its intended purpose (e.g. check-ins) and automatically deleted afterwards, with any data retention being limited to the absolute minimum.

There are various electronic smart badge devices available. Our favourites are the ones that help to make networking much easier: instead of introducing yourself to random people and hoping for the best, attendees fill in a questionnaire preevent on their interests. This, plus their contact information, is stored on the smart badges. During the event, these badges light up every time two compatible prospects are within close proximity, cuing them to introduce themselves. Contact details can be retrieved easily later.

Some badges can help attendees contact and locate someone they want to talk to and can be used for access control (should some areas be limited to certain guests or capacities). They can also provide organisers with data reports on attendee movements (including real-time heat maps) – e.g. which attendee profiles engaged the most with each other, and which areas of interest sparked the most and longest conversations.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a local supplier for this yet, but hopefully it will reach our shores soon.

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