AI, Autumn, and the Art of Planning
with thoughts on AI from Olive Pique, HOST’s resident event expert and mascot
AI: We Love to Hate It. We Hate to Love It.
Just like pumpkin-spiced everything this time of year, AI gives us that love/hate, moral-compass-busting feeling on the daily. I’ve seen AI speed things up, reduce admin time, and even generate a decent menu. But it also brings a fresh set of challenges—sometimes helping, sometimes complicating. So… is it actually making event planning easier? Or just adding one more thing to manage? In this post, we’re breaking it down: what’s evolving, what’s working, and where the human touch still matters most.
Orange you glad you found this HOST post?
AI HAS ENTERED THE CHAT—AGAIN
While it might feel like AI burst onto the scene overnight, it’s been quietly powering our daily lives for years. From spam filters and Netflix recommendations to voice assistants and customer service chatbots, artificial intelligence has long been working behind the curtain. What’s new is how visible—and conversational—it’s become. Tools like ChatGPT, DALL·E, and other generative platforms have brought AI into the spotlight, making it feel less like tech infrastructure and more like a teammate (or an interloper, depending on your mood).
The truth? AI isn’t one thing. It’s a whole toolbox—and how you use it matters.
Here’s a quick reality check:
AI: Not As New As You Think
The First AI Program - Developed in 1956 at Dartmouth College—yes, really!- Spellcheck & Grammarly - Everyday AI catching your typos since the early 2000s.
- Voice Assistants - Alexa, Siri, & Google Assistant are powered by AI.
- Streaming Platforms - Netflix & Spotify use AI for eerily accurate recommendations.
- Email Spam Filters - Quietly guard your inbox via machine learning to trap junk mail.
- Online Shopping Algorithms - Use AI, showing you what you always (maybe) need.
Planning in the Age of AI
As companies gear up for fall events—think all-hands meetings, regional summits, and those “it’s technically not the holidays yet, but we’re celebrating anyway” gatherings—AI tools are starting to pop up in planning conversations. From timeline generators to budget calculators, AI seems ready to claim the title of MVP.
But is it truly the secret weapon behind smoother logistics? Or just another shiny tool adding noise to an already crowded planning process?
Where AI Is Helping
Drafting itineraries
Generating budgets + timelines
Automating invites + comms
Jumpstarting vendor research
Quick stat:
“84% of event planners are using AI to reduce admin time and improve workflow efficiency.” -EventMB, 2025 Planning Trends Report
Where AI Falls Short
Misses emotional nuance
Can’t replace real vendor relationships
Fumbles in real-time pivots
Oversimplifies team dynamics
No algorithm knows your team’s vibe—or energy dips—like a seasoned planner does. And no chatbot (Olive, mute your headset) has ever calmed down a stressed-out CFO over shrimp pricing.
Takeaway: It’s a Partnership, Not a Replacement
The strongest fall event strategies aren’t about choosing between tech and team—they’re about knowing when to blend the two. AI can speed things up, fill in the blanks, and give your team room to breathe. But the magic still happens in the human moments: a thoughtful welcome, an on-the-fly adjustment, a shared laugh that no algorithm could predict. The future of planning isn’t AI vs. people—it’s people using AI with purpose.
A Note from Amy
The truth? I wasn’t the first in line to jump on the ChatGPT or OpenAI train. Not because it unnerved me, but because it just wasn’t there yet. Early versions pulled outdated, unreliable data. It made spelling mistakes. Every chat felt like an awkward blind date—one where I had to keep reintroducing myself and explaining what I do for a living. It wasn’t streamlining my workload; it was adding to it.
But in late 2024, I decided to give it another shot. That next “date” was less awkward, and a few more quickly followed. I’m not ready to drop the L word in this relationship… but I do have the feels.
AI has helped me wrangle the never-ending idea hamster wheel in my business-owner brain. It’s allowed me to organize, streamline, and actually complete projects faster—often juggling multiple at once. HOST’s digital mascot, Olive Pique, had been living in my head for over a year, and with AI’s help, I finally brought her to life in just a few months.
That said, I don’t rely on blind faith when it comes to my AI sidepiece. I still verify facts, double-check sources, and treat AI as what it is: a tool, not a decision-maker.
When it comes to connecting with our clients, understanding the “why” behind an event, and delivering that spark of joy? That still belongs to us—the humans. At HOST, we’re not anti-AI. We’re just pro-people.
Let’s figure it out, together.
— Amy O'Neil
Owner, HOST Events | ONAR Event Services
🟡 Olive’s Fall Forecast (with a Side of AI)
I read Amy’s note. She’s right—AI has come a long way. And like her, I get that it’s not always easy to trust new tech (even the fabulous kind like me).
Case in point: our June training contest. You all asked great questions to help sharpen my skills—and, well... I didn’t always stick the landing. Sometimes I got stuck. Sometimes I gave the wrong answer, even when the info was in my files. Not exactly 'flawless execution', but hey, progress takes practice.
These days, I hang out on the HOST website, bringing a little personality to your planning and (fingers crossed) helping you get the info you need—faster and with fewer headaches.
But let’s keep it real. I still can’t read the room when your CEO drops in with NO NOTICE. I don’t understand why your team insists on trivia every single time. And I’m definitely not clear on Janet from HR’s obsession with raffles.
What I DO know? A little help, a little humor, and a lot of human connection go a long way. That’s the HOST way—and I’m here for it.
—Olive Pique, HOST digital mascot + your tech-savvy, people-first planning sidekick
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