The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) has announced a strategic partnership with uptakeAI to provide targeted artificial intelligence training for event and exhibition professionals, aiming to equip the sector with practical AI skills throughout 2026. The initiative was launched at the AEO Forums 2026, held at the Business Design Centre in London, where uptakeAI delivered the first live training sessions focused on real-world event tasks.
The year-long partnership is designed to give event organisers access to a structured AI training programme aligned with their everyday responsibilities across operations, sales, marketing, and leadership. Sessions are developed to build confidence in using AI tools in ways that enhance efficiency while preserving the human judgement that lies at the heart of successful event delivery. The first trainings covered sales and operations streams, with scenarios that reflect everyday challenges faced by event professionals.
Participants in the programme will benefit from a range of learning formats scheduled throughout 2026. These include half-day workshops, editorial content, and case studies based on practical event scenarios. The curriculum is supported by SUSY, uptakeAI’s AI learning and capability-building platform, which is specifically tailored for the events and exhibitions sector. SUSY enables users to apply AI directly to tasks such as planning, logistics, content creation, commercial activities, and performance analysis without requiring advanced technical expertise. The platform also integrates ethical and responsible AI usage principles, ensuring that AI adoption is grounded in human-centred decision-making.
Commenting on the partnership, Anna Golden, CEO of AEO, emphasised the importance of practical, role-specific support for organisers. She highlighted that members want tools and training that reflect the realities of planning and delivering events, not theoretical or abstract AI concepts. uptakeAI’s grounded approach to training was cited as a key factor in helping professionals adopt AI in ways that add real value to their daily workflows.
Lucy Pitt, uptakeAI’s co-founder and head of client services, underscored that the main challenge for many organisations is not experimenting with AI but scaling its responsible and effective use. SUSY is designed to empower professionals by embedding AI into everyday work processes without overwhelming them, helping them to evolve with industry change rather than be disrupted by it.
As the events and exhibitions industry continues to adapt to digital transformation, partnerships like this signal a growing commitment to equipping professionals with the skills needed to harness AI responsibly and effectively.
