4 Technology Trends Shaping the Event Industry, From AI to LED Portals

As the AV Designer at Convene, I traveled to a four-day technology trade show this year to explore new AV equipment on the market and learn about innovations through the lens of enhancing experiences for our clients. Integrated Systems Europe, or ISE, is an annual technology exhibition for the professional audiovisual and systems integration industry. In 2025, around 74,000 people attended the conference in Barcelona, Spain. Now, I want to share some of the most relevant technology trends I saw that will impact the meetings and events industry. 

To stay at the cutting edge of audio, lighting, digital displays, and other technological offerings, we refresh AV technology at Convene event venues approximately every five years. ISE is one way to stay up to date with trends and the latest that technology partners have to offer. What I wasn’t prepared for was the vast number of different products, product types, and systems that exist in AV technology.

Impressive technology trends helpful for meetings and events

I learned that while many products may appear to function the same, each company offers a unique approach worth considering when choosing which product works best for our needs. Speaking with representatives from large and emerging companies, I focused mainly on technologies designed to advance event production, including experiential LED Walls, video automation, and more.

1. LED large-format displays offer immersive experiences

I found the industry's ever-growing offering of LED technology for large format displays the most interesting while at ISE. In most conference halls, you could spot the glow of LED video walls in almost any corner of the space. These digital video walls, one of the many AV solutions for event planning, are constructed of multiple LED panels that can be customized in size and resolution. At ISE, impressive digital panels were grouped to create an immersive, almost 180-degree viewing experience. 

Pixel pitch, the space between individual LEDs on a screen, and screen size are two important considerations for users when choosing a display. For example, LED screens in New York City’s Times Square are massive in size but are low in pixel density, which is referred to as high-pixel pitch. This is because screens in Times Square are typically viewed from far away. If you got up close, you would have a hard time seeing the whole image. (A similar effect happens when you stand close to one of the famous pointillism paintings in a museum.)  

Smaller screens require a higher pixel density, or low-pixel pitch, since the images are viewed in close proximity. More pixels are needed to recreate a crisp image and accurate color representation, which we’ve experienced firsthand with the addition 29.5-foot LED continuous display at Convene 237 Park. High-pixel displays at meetings and event venues will only increase as the technology becomes more accessible for a wide range of productions.

2. AI automation will advance the future of meeting and event technology

Meeting technologies and event planners are embracing AI and automation. Companies are developing technology to leverage AI in their products that lighten the workflow of an AV technician and perform more tasks faster and more efficiently. Cameras that track presenters and switch cameras to active speakers ensure that virtual attendees of a meeting always know who is speaking. These advancements are significant for the industry, and there are plenty of benefits from embracing them; however, relying on AI to perform these tasks could potentially remove the nuance of live events that only a human technician can replicate.

It is our perspective that AI will become more of a tool than a crutch for meetings, allowing the job of a technician to be easier by providing calculated suggestions and informed decisions. The industry will look to leverage more and more AI-driven technologies that promote effortless deployment, engaging events, and smarter automations in the future. The goal should always be to improve meetings and events through more intelligent and powerful products and tools.

3. Video displays shaped into forms and walkthrough portals

As LED video display technology has expanded, many companies have found ways to create digital structures for more immersive experiences. Video walls are shaped into formations using both flexible and small-form-factor panels. While some displays are notable for expansive scale, some of the more surprising video displays included shapes such as vases, bottles, cans, globes, and cubes. While the use case for these video walls in unusual shapes may be limited, their existence can spark the creative minds of end users looking for that wow factor for their events.

Amongst the interesting and unique shape offerings, larger, more extravagant structures clad with LED panels are on the rise. Large LED “portals” created impressive visuals as attendees walked through and around them. I could see more demand in the future for this style of immersive video displays for branded experiential events. Convene also partners with providers of experiential AV equipment for clients interested in more unexpected displays.

4. Auto-tracking and framing enhance video equipment during events

You might be familiar with auto-tracking features if you’ve had a video-conferencing camera follow your movements during a work call. Embracing automation and AI-powered features is geared towards making the work of technicians easier because video equipment can operate independently with little to no human interaction. Automation was featured at almost every booth focused on meetings or event-specific technology like "Pan-Tilt-Zoom" (PTZ) cameras, video conferencing, and Digital Signal Processors (DSP).

To maintain a competitive edge and introduce groundbreaking "set and forget" technologies that prioritize user-friendliness and efficiency, a growing number of businesses are integrating these cutting-edge technologies into their products.

Auto-Tracking: AI-powered PTZ cameras can identify presenters in pre-determined “zones” in a room. When someone enters a zone, the camera can easily track them as they move around. When there is no presenter to track, the camera can be programmed to return to a home position and give a wide-angle view of the space until the next presenter is in position.

Auto-Framing: Auto-framing cameras, which are integrated into all-in-one video conferencing bars, use a digital zoom on a wide-angle lens to frame meeting participants. The camera remains stationary; instead, the image is digitally cropped to focus on the presenter.

ISE presenters demonstrated all-in-one video conference solutions with the built-in ability to automatically track and frame. We’re already seeing this technology be embraced by the industry and will likely only see more applications year over year for event and meeting production.

What to expect at a technology conference like ISE

Why visitors attend industry conferences like ISE could include a range of reasons, but many are involved in the purchasing, installation, and maintenance of AV products, such as a live events producer or an in-house IT or facilities manager. Because so many companies are represented at the conference, there are plenty of opportunities to learn about new tech and network with tech creators to foster relationships that lead to better offerings at a meeting or event.

I left ISE with the realization that the technologies we use day to day might, on the surface, perform basic tasks, like switching between video sources or routing audio. Still, their interior functionality and development make all the difference. Interacting with individuals who develop and sell AV equipment, as well as experiencing the technology firsthand, are both invaluable opportunities, especially when our team needs to select equipment for technology upgrades at Convene properties.

Looking to produce a meeting or event with state-of-the-art technology? Speak to the experts at Convene to learn how to tailor enhancements for your ideal gathering.