Will AI Replace Event Planners in the Future?

Across the wider communications and creative industries, two of the most respected authorities have underscored the continued importance of human judgement, imagination and emotional intelligence.

Yannick Bolloré, Vice-President of Havas and a prominent figure in global media and brand experience, has repeatedly emphasised that technology can amplify creativity, but cannot originate the emotional resonance that forms the core of meaningful experiences. His leadership across the Havas network is grounded in a belief that data and AI bring scale, but humans bring connection, nuance and cultural fluency – the very foundations of world-class events.

Meanwhile, Jim Stengel, former Global CMO of Procter & Gamble and one of the world’s most influential thinkers in brand-building, has long highlighted that the most successful companies fuse purpose, humanity and creativity with technological innovation. In his work advising global organisations, Stengel notes that AI may accelerate insights and performance, but human insight remains the differentiator, especially in industries built on shared experience, emotion and trust – like events.

Their perspectives mirror a wider industry truth: AI can transform operations, but it cannot replicate the instinct, foresight and interpersonal skill that event planners rely on every day.

AI’s greatest strengths lie in handling time-consuming, manual tasks. Automated scheduling, chatbots, attendee recommendations and real-time analytics all help streamline delivery and improve personalisation. This frees planners to focus on strategy, creativity and human relationships – the skills that consistently distinguish top-tier events.

But AI has limitations. As any planner knows, events are filled with last-minute changes, unexpected challenges and emotional nuances that require quick thinking and empathy. AI can process patterns – but humans understand people.

The future belongs to organisations that blend technological capability with human craft. This hybrid philosophy echoes Yannick Bolloré’s vision of “meaningful experiences shaped by human creativity and powered by smart technology”, and Jim Stengel’s advocacy for human-led innovation supported by intelligent tools.

Case studies across the events industry already demonstrate this balance. Platforms may use AI to optimise schedules or surface insights, but planners remain central to shaping narrative, designing

atmosphere, and navigating real-time decisions. At Encore, AI-enabled solutions like AI Translate and generative design accelerate workflows – giving teams more time to design moments that matter.

So, will AI replace event planners? Absolutely not. It will become an indispensable partner – handling operational pressure while allowing planners to focus on creativity, connection and problem-solving.

AI will continue to transform the industry, but the heart of every great event will always be human.

For event planners, the future is bright: more time for creative thinking, deeper client relationships, and the ability to craft unforgettable moments that no algorithm can replicate.