Will AI make the show better for the audience?
That was the question at the heart of a recent The BACK LOUNGE discussion, where our Director of Marketing Richard Turrell was invited to join as a guest speaker to explore the impact AI is already having on live events and touring. We’ll leave Richard to explain…
AI in live, where do we start?
It’s a contentious topic but this isn’t just about the future anymore, it’s already happening. And while much of the public discussion around AI focuses on whether jobs will disappear, supported by polarised opinions of good vs. evil and optimism vs. deep fear, the more interesting question is whether AI (when I say AI I mean ethical AI) can improve the live experience for audiences, artists and crews.
If it can help create better shows, safer productions and more sustainable careers, then it’s worth paying attention to. If it simply becomes a tool for reducing costs without improving outcomes, then we need to ask tougher questions.
The reality is that AI is already being introduced into many areas of live events. Production paperwork, advances, crew communications, travel planning, inventory management, reporting and administration can all be streamlined using AI-powered tools. But it still needs a human to validate the output because one small error can unravel a show… or tour!
In sound, it can support system optimisation, room analysis, troubleshooting and workflow automation. A tool like De-Feedback is a great example because it doesn’t replace a skilled FOH engineer but can improve the live experience by removing unexpected feedback faster than it could be corrected manually.
