This article first appeared in IR Magazine written by, Chris Israelski, Managing Director of Investor Communications.

IR teams can elevate planning efficiencies, data-driven storytelling, and personalized experiences with AI applications

With AI’s rise in popularity, it has become an inescapable and much debated topic. Across every industry and discipline, the exploration of how to best adopt AI has become integral with companies increasingly investing in the technology. Not only is AI revolutionizing how people interact and work but also the experiences that they seek – opening new frontiers of possibility.

Consequently, anyone involved in event preparation should reconsider the way they plan and execute events, to create new opportunities that enrich the attendee experience and provide greater value. Investor-focused events are no exception.

Planning and executing them, however, can be time intensive. New and emerging applications of AI promise to make the process more efficient and impactful. Instant aggregation and analysis of a wide range of data can reveal deeper insights to lead corporate storytelling and inform design and experience.

By understanding the various potential applications of AI, IR teams can adopt these tools to offer superior efficiency, speed, insight, hyper-personalization, reach, and security. This drives a remarkable change in the entire event management process from end-to-end.

Data-driven storytelling

The centerpiece of and reason for every investor event is the story, and the ability to develop a compelling narrative that resonates with stakeholders can make all the difference in capturing attention and inspiring informed decisions. Applying AI tools such as Machine Learning (ML) can help to build the strongest investment case. By distilling publicly-available information from diverse sources, these applications can offer baseline readings on financials, valuation, market sentiment, and predictive indicators.

By quickly analyzing vast amounts of data, AI offers unparalleled insights into the market, empowering more informed decision-making for stakeholders. The planning phase of investor events benefits from this data-driven approach through:

• Fundamental analysis - AI can aid in analyzing fundamental data on financials, valuation, holders, and transactions, allowing for a deeper exploration of comparative decision analytics of active, fundamental investors. This leads to a clearer understanding of meeting objectives and key points to communicate to investors, resulting in sharper management presentations.

• Alternative data - These technologies can leverage alternative data sources, such as transcripts, news, and social media, to gauge market sentiment. Incorporating these insights helps in generating actionable intelligence.

• Predictive insights - AI can also provide predictive data on future returns using factor-based and technical indicators, better informing decision making.

AI enhanced design

AI can also significantly impact the planning and design phase - enhancing creativity and streamlining the process for greater efficiency. However, it is essential to carefully consider the areas where it can be most effective. Not all aspects of the process may be suitable for automation, and the human touch remains indispensable. Here are some potential areas where AI can support creative practice:

• Concepting and ideation – These tools can fuel creative exploration and idea generation, while with generative AI, concept development can be expedited, allowing creative partners to present innovative and well-informed ideas to clients more efficiently.

• Venue research - One potential future use of AI is the ability to efficiently analyze databases of venue information using AI algorithms based on user preferences and constraints (such as location, capacity, amenities, and pricing). Teams could also narrow down venue options that align with any specific needs for a given event.

• Space design - AI also has the potential to significantly improve event space concepting and design from planning to implementation. Using AI-powered 3D rendering tools, creative teams could rapidly iterate difference concepts.

• Environment design - Text to image generation tools can create striking rendered backdrops and signage that will have a lasting impact on the event's atmosphere and overall aesthetic.

Experiences driven by AI

Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all approaches: AI empowers the creation of engaging and unforgettable event experiences that transcend conventional limits. It has the power to elevate immersive experiences, delivering tailored touchpoints that cater to the unique needs and preferences of attendees. Event planners can even curate personalized experiences and impactful takeaways that reinforce key messaging and bring the investment rationale to life. Some potential areas include:

• Personalized journeys - AI can be used to tailor content and experiences to the needs of individuals in real-time. In addition, for those comfortable seeking basic biometric information from investors at the registration desk, facial recognition could streamline the attendee journey through seamless check-in to bespoke brand activations and breakout meetings, offering convenience with an added layer of security to sensitive content.

• Enhanced experiences - Technologies like AR and VR provide new opportunities to engage with and respond to attendees with tools such as object recognition, natural language processing and predictive. AI-powered algorithms can also generate realistic environments, characters, and objects, making the virtual world more convincing and immersive. Investors can be virtually taken down the production line to see the manufacturing process first hand or maybe even speak with customers in a virtual world.

• Real-time translation - AI technology can help to break down language barriers on a global scale and facilitate more effective communication - without needing additional crew or equipment.

• Bespoke souvenirs - With the help of AI-powered design tools, you can create unique, customized mementos in real time that reflect your brand and the event experience. For example, an auto brand could offer a personalized photo takeaway that puts the investor behind the wheel of a vehicle on a variety of striking off-road terrains.

Ethical considerations

Even with this in mind IR teams, along with event organizers, must navigate the fine line between enhancing experiences and safeguarding attendee privacy. Transparency in data collection and usage is crucial to fostering trust and ensure attendees are comfortable.

Although investor events provide a closed, more focused setting, it is important to keep in mind any potential bias within AI algorithms. This ensures that all attendees receive equitable treatment and that inclusivity is upheld.

From harnessing data-driven insights and delivering hyper-personalized experiences to enhancing planning efficiency, AI is poised to greatly shift the way investor events are executed. It is important to remember that rather than seeking to replace us, AI is a complementary companion with the potential to elevate our workflows and expand creativity.

As Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella aptly put it in an interview with Time Magazine: "AI itself is very much present in our lives. But if anything, it’s moving from being autopilot to being a copilot that helps us at our work. You put the human in the center, and then create this tool around them so that it empowers them."

With the right balance of human ingenuity and AI prowess, the possibilities are limitless.