Published by Neil Thompson, 20th October 2025
With CHS Birmingham opening next week, 28th October at ICC Birmingham, new research from the show reveals the event industry is racing headfirst into an AI revolution, but most professionals are flying blind.
A survey of event industry professionals has uncovered a striking paradox: while 88% have already adopted AI tools in the past 12 months, with 71% using them daily or weekly, a staggering 58% admit they only know the basics about the technology transforming their careers.
The findings paint a picture of an industry moving at breakneck speed. Over 70% of respondents report they are actively experimenting with AI right now. Yet this same cohort, predominantly experienced professionals with 11+ years in the industry (58%), recognises a critical gap between adoption and understanding.
The driver behind this rapid uptake is clear: 87.5% of event professionals cite saving time on administrative tasks as their biggest hope for AI. With weekly or daily usage now the norm rather than the exception, the technology has moved from experimental to essential in record time.
However, despite widespread adoption, significant anxieties remain. Three-quarters (75%) of respondents cite data privacy and security as their primary concern, while two-thirds (66.7%) worry about losing the human touch that makes events special. The survey reveals an industry caught between excitement and apprehension, with 54% believing AI will be essential for staying competitive within just two years.
CHS Birmingham is responded to this knowledge gap with a comprehensive educational programme that tackles AI head-on. The show's personality-fuelled conference agenda, "You and AI: Hope, Hype or Headache," directly addresses the questions keeping event professionals awake at night.
The educational programme will comprehensively address practical AI applications that actually save time (the #1 priority for 87.5% of professionals), navigating data privacy and security concerns (the top worry for 75%), and preserving human touch while leveraging AI efficiency.
CHS Birmingham kicks off on 28th October at ICC Birmingham, and organisers are encouraging attendees to make the most of both the education at the show and the business environment it will create for event professionals.
