Event Tech

Navigating through the tech-stricken event industry with ChatGPT

Eventually Learning Team

21 February 2023

Read time 6 minutes 10 seconds

What’s all the fuss about?

In times when the attention span of a scroller in less than a second even as new technical and social global developments sweep in every minute, going gaga over an AI-powered chatbot shows how docile and impressionable the collective human race is – not to even mention the fickleness of it all in the context of the global narrative so quickly shifting from Metaverse and Blockchain to the ChatGPT, whose knowledge cutoff is 2021.

There is no doubt about the significance of this introduction to the technology. It was, since the last few years, only a matter of time. Artificial Intelligence has swept the floor off from under the feet of many of us; but this time, there’s a different catch– it was not Google who made the first move. And so, we can now brace ourselves for the show Google may put on to kill the ‘first mover advantage’ with Bard.

The event industry has, in the recent past, seen a lot of fluctuation with the virtual events taking a center stage with the influx of event tech, with the introduction of Metaverse, then with getting back to in-person events and now finally, with the advent of AI in tech. A lot of hope rides on the value that can be derived from Artificial Intelligence-fueled large language models to support the event industry and their application in the physical events. However, the current version of ChatGPT is based on GPT-3 and OpenAI is soon to release the much higher and accurate GPT-4, which not only surpasses GPT-3 in accuracy and speed but will also be more in coherence with human behavior.

Neither a tool, nor less than it

Before we get on with it, ChatGPT is not a tool. Its use requires a certain degree of specification in terms of input in order to get desired results. Since the outcome of all the queries put before ChatGPT will be text-based, it can be a little confusing as to its uses for physical events. Still, there are multiple ways in which event organizers can facilitate their event building efforts by using ChatGPT to their advantages. Some of the ways are discussed below.

Guest management: AI chatbots can be used to manage guest lists, RSVPs, and guest preferences. This can help event planners to create a personalized experience for guests and improve the overall guest experience.
Providing information and guidance: ChatGPT can answer frequently asked questions about the event, such as directions, schedule, and activities.
Handling inquiries and concerns: It can assist with inquiries and concerns raised by attendees, helping to alleviate the workload of event organizers and ensure a smoother experience for attendees.
Personalizing the experience: It can provide tailored recommendations to attendees based on their preferences and interests, such as suggesting sessions, activities, or food options.
Collecting feedback: Organizers can use ChatGPT to collect feedback from attendees about the event and the overall experience, which can be used to improve future events.
Facilitating networking: ChatGPT can provide attendees with suggestions for connecting with other attendees, such as facilitating introductions or suggesting areas of shared interest.

Limitations to ChatGPT in Event Planning

The use of AI technologies and large language models such as ChatGPT can help event planners to design and build better events by providing data-driven insights and recommendations that can improve the guest experience and increase event success. However, there are some limitations to it.

Based solely on text input and output

One of the limitations of ChatGPT is that it is based solely on text input and output, and does not have the capability to perform tasks or carry out actions in the physical world. While it can answer questions and provide information related to event planning, it cannot physically execute or manage events. This limits its usefulness as a tool for event planners, who often require the ability to perform tasks such as coordinating with vendors, scheduling appointments, and making reservations.

Lacks awareness regarding the context

ChatGPT lacks awareness regarding the context. It can only provide answers based on the information it has been trained on. It does not have the ability to keep track of previous interactions or remember specific details related to a particular event.

Only a language based model, not a tool

Finally, it's important to note that ChatGPT is an AI language model, which means it is based on statistical patterns in the text data it was trained on. This poses limitations in its ability to understand human intentions and provide accurate answers, especially now that the event industry is fighting to incorporate more and more personal experiences and build inclusive events. But the updated GPT-4 can prove to be revolutionary in overcoming this limitation in the near future.

Conclusion - cautionary tale of a collective triumph

The whole narrative of the public information has shifted from Metaverse to the ChatGPT and other large language models in a very short span of time. This is a cautionary tale of how quickly technology is replaced, irrespective of its impact and grandeur, which is also reflected in the massive layoffs. The language model is nothing short of a marvel but it is only the tip of the iceberg and in my frank opinion, it would serve in our best interest to approach it with a caution that is due.

ChatGPT’s alma mater is the World Wide Web. There is nothing on the internet that it does not know except the things later than 2021 but that does not limit its scope as the most advanced technology. Come GPT-4, and the event industry will benefit greatly from the support it can extend in operations that does not involve undertaking tasks or logistics.

The road ahead for the event profs also seems a little easier since there are reflections of a deeper understanding within the industry, in the failed successes of virtual events and Metaverse. Yet, this paradigmatic shift in the technology must be handled with care to cater for a longer tenure; there is unlimited potential. It’d be a sorry sight to have this one slip out of our hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ChatGPT and how does it help with event planning?

ChatGPT is an advanced AI-powered language model developed by OpenAI that can generate human-like text based on the input provided. In the context of event planning, ChatGPT can assist with tasks such as venue search and selection, vendor recommendations, and even event theme suggestions.

How does ChatGPT generate event theme suggestions?

ChatGPT is trained on a large corpus of text data, including information about different event themes. When generating event theme suggestions, ChatGPT considers factors such as the type of event, the target audience, and the desired atmosphere.

Can ChatGPT handle the entire event planning process from start to finish?

While ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can assist with various aspects of event planning, it is not designed to handle the entire process from start to finish. While it can provide suggestions and information, the final decision-making and execution of the event planning process still requires human input and oversight.