How about we re-imagine trade shows through the AI lense, just to see? 😄

Now, is our little friend ChatGPT currently jazzing up the trade show scene? Not quite, yet.

But as professional, I have to ask myself about how could AI could reshape my sector – and my 9 to 5.

Trade Shows: a human to human experience

They’re a hub of human connection, a platform where the currency is face-to-face interactions.

On this stage your ‘face’ is your tool of trade – I say ‘face’ but what I mean is your mind and body (I will make a post about how trade sows are like Yoga for the summer, promise!).

Now here’s the million-dollar question: can AI step in and play the hero (or villain) in our future human face-to-face interactions?

Is it like swapping the friendly grocery cashier with a self-checkout machine?

Or buying a twix bar at the super high-tech human free Javits convention center of new york mini-market in New York City? 🗽

Not quite.

After all, trade shows aren’t about mere purchases.

We’re not buying of the shelf (though for some exhibitor their sales team makes your regret you’re not buying of the shelf). However, machines are upping their EQ game, and surprise, surprise, they can read human emotions like a book! 📖

Trade shows are about emotions

Now, can they also pump emotions back into us?

The jury’s still out on that. So far, I haven’t seen a robot capable of live interactions with the emotion mastery of a human.

So far…

While we don’t have any Robo-Casanovas just yet capable of real-time, eye-to-eye chat, tech is sure to catch up. 🤖

And when machines get into the emotional tug-of-war with humans? Casinos have been winning that game for ages! And if casinos don’t ring a bell, Candy Crush might. 🎰🍬

With frustration, victory, or defeat comes a big fat shot of dopamine, setting the stage for all kinds of cognitive biases – yep, that’s all programmable!

And if you’ve read my series on cognitive biases you know there is a big play field waiting for scientists to get into.

So, is the future of our jobs a bleak robot apocalypse? Not yet, my friends.

But the tech tools are shaping up fast, and I wouldn’t bat an eyelid if teams get their hands on an emotion reader any time soon.

BUT, here’s a fun twist: The AI revolution can only happen on one end. Machines will still need to interact with us homo sapiens. So, the human element of trade shows? It’s here to stay! 💁

The question is on which side?

Depending on the answer I’ll have to train humans to beat the machine in the coming future, or to turn into a programmer for trade show selling machines. @Bruno got a job for me?