AI and Industry Shifts Take Center Stage
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Where we explore “context as a service” and why events deserve to be treated as products, not channels.

![](https://assets.brentturner.is/_fitWide800/10130/event-perspectives-podcast-2026.webp)

**In a recent episode of RainFocus’s** [_**Event Perspectives**_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WnsBQH76hs) **podcast, I sat down with host** [**Rodney Hart**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneyhartjr/)**, VP of Events at** [**RainFocus**](https://www.rainfocus.com/)**, to unpack the state of event innovation in 2026.** 

From the rise of executive experiences to the mechanics of audience participation, I shares why legacy playbooks no longer deliver and how event leaders can adapt. 

**Key Takeaways**‍
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### **Events are products, not marketing channels.** ‍

Shifting to a product design framework changes how experiences are built, focusing on human-centered design rather than managing logistics alone. Intentional transition moments (what product designers call “closing the menu”) drive real engagement, while strong event products build genuine fandom.

### **Content is no longer the primary draw.** 

**‍**Educational content, once the top driver for attendance, has dropped to the bottom of attendee priorities. Because AI systems deliver information on demand, live experiences must answer two simple questions. _Why live?_ _Why together?_

### **AI and “context as a service.”**‍

As AI shifts from simple answers to agentic action, the application moves through three phases: productivity, delivery, and experience design—the latter delivering on the long-prophesied Personalization. I talk about “context as a service,” allowing attendees to carry a portable repository of personal data and preferences across AI tools without retraining each system.

### **Executive experiences are the innovation sandbox.**

**‍**With attendees being more selective about where they spend their time, brands are prioritizing [executive experiences](https://www.opusagency.com/article/the-future-of-b2b-sponsorship-is-cxo-value). Because executive audiences demand higher value, these programs have become the primary testing ground for new formats, intimate settings, and unconventional environments that later scale to broader audiences.

_Speaking of unconventional formats … I am currently obsessing over_ [_Zoox robotaxis_](https://zoox.com/)_. With inward-facing bench seating, no driver’s seat, and no steering wheel, could self-driving pods become the next mobile networking hub for citywide events?_‍

### **My advice for event professionals?** 

*   ‍**Balance two experiences**: Every program requires designing two distinct experiences. The first is the experience your team has working together. The second is the experience your team is creating for your audience. Over-indexing on one causes the other to suffer, but balancing both drives true success. 
*   ‍**Map your career matrix**: Map your future along two axes. Brand vs. agency on the X axis, and people-leader vs. individual craftsman on the Y axis. You can find high-level success in any quadrant. Identify your personal motivations early, find your quadrant, and double down from there.