Encore Uses AI Tools to Make Events Faster, Clearer, and More Inclusive for Gen Z
Gen Z expects quick, intuitive, and personal experiences. They skim fast, multitask, and want options that match how they process information. Encore is meeting that demand with AI-enabled features that reduce friction for attendees and give planners practical levers to improve outcomes.
According to the latest Encore Planner Pulse survey, nearly 50% of planners are experimenting with AI, yet only 11% use it actively. That gap is an opportunity. From captions and translations to instant summaries, the tech is ready-and the audience is asking for it.
"Gen Z expects fast, intuitive, and personalized experiences that reduce friction and support different ways of processing information. And increasingly, all audiences are feeling the effects of information overload," said Christopher Baron, senior director of innovation at Encore. "Our goal at Encore is to design solutions that meet these needs using AI and digital tools to inform, simplify, and connect."
Why this matters for event pros
Gen Z, born in the late 1990s through the early 2010s, already makes up 27% of the global workforce and is on track to be the largest generation at work by 2030. Many identify as neurodivergent (53%), and their content preferences are clear: shorter, visual-first, and interactive.
Accessibility is mainstream behavior now. About half of Americans use subtitles. Usage climbs to 70% for Gen Z and 53% for Millennials, with a major UK streaming platform reporting 85% caption adoption. Attendees want clarity and control over how they consume content-especially in environments packed with stimuli.
Encore AI Accessibility Toolkit
"Customer experience is at the heart of everything we do at Encore," said Jill Hunt, vice president of customer experience at Encore. "We study our customers' needs constantly, and it informs how we lead the industry forward."
- AI Transcription Services. Near-simultaneous closed captioning in 50+ languages. View on personal devices, in-room screens, or event apps. Captions can be repurposed into post-event content to extend reach.
- AI Translation Services. Real-time audio translations and multilingual captions, with terminology tuning for your industry or event. Integrates with platforms like Chime Live®. Helpful for neurodivergent and hard-of-hearing attendees by reducing cognitive load and improving clarity.
- AI Session Summaries. Live speech analysis that generates idea clouds, transcripts, and key takeaways. Useful for quick recaps, measurable ROI, and content reuse across channels.
Practical plays for planners and venue teams
- Turn captions on by default. Offer on-screen captions plus a QR code so attendees can choose device-based captions in their preferred language.
- Publish summaries within hours. Push AI-generated highlights to the event app, email, and signage. Fast recaps increase session stickiness and sponsor value.
- Shorten and segment. Break long sessions into 15-20 minute blocks with clear transitions. Add live polls and Q&A to keep energy and attention.
- Reduce sensory strain. Use consistent navigation in apps, high-contrast text, and predictable slide layouts. Offer quiet zones and headphone-friendly seating.
- Build a glossary. Provide industry terms to the AI for better translations and cleaner transcripts. This improves accuracy and trust.
- Train your crew. Assign a caption/translation lead, test room audio, and rehearse presenter pacing to improve AI output.
Business impact you can measure
These tools do more than check an accessibility box. They increase session completion rates, broaden reach across languages, and produce reusable assets-recaps, quotes, and clips-for sales and marketing. That helps hotels, venues, and organizers show concrete value to stakeholders and sponsors.
Where to go from here
If you're ready to build these features into your next program, explore Encore's event technology and services at encoreglobal.com.
Want your team to level up on AI for daily workflows, content reuse, and attendee experience? Browse practical courses by job role at Complete AI Training.
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