AEO LAUNCHES AI TRAINING PARTNERSHIP WITH UPTAKEAI AT AEO FORUMS 2026

The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) has launched a new AI training partnership with uptakeAI, announced last week at the AEO Forums 2026 at the Business Design Centre in London.

The partnership, which runs throughout 2026, is focused on giving event organisers practical, role-relevant support to explore how AI can meaningfully enhance their work, without losing the human judgement at the heart of successful events.

uptakeAI marked the start of the partnership by delivering live training sessions across the sales and operations streams at the AEO Forums on Friday, 30 January. The sessions focused on building confidence using AI tools in low-pressure, realistic ways that reflect the day-to-day challenges of event delivery.

Over the year ahead, AEO members will have access to a structured programme of AI training delivered by uptakeAI, including half-day workshops, editorial content and case studies grounded in real event scenarios. The programme will be supported by SUSY, uptakeAI’s AI learning and capability-building platform, designed to help event professionals move beyond experimentation and build responsible, effective AI use in the flow of their day-to-day roles.

Designed specifically for use in the workplace, SUSY supports teams across operations, marketing, sales and leadership, embedding ethical and responsible AI principles throughout. The platform enables organisers to apply AI directly to real tasks - from planning and logistics through to content, commercial activity and performance analysis, without requiring technical expertise.

Anna Golden, chief executive of the Association of Event Organisers, said:
“Our members have been clear that what they want is practical support that reflects the reality of running events. Launching this partnership at the AEO Forums felt like the right place to start -focusing on how AI can be used in practice. uptakeAI understands the pressures organisers are under and brings a grounded, thoughtful approach to AI training. I’m confident this will deliver real value for our members.”

Lucy Pitt, co-founder & head of client services at uptakeAI, added:
“I’m really excited to be working in partnership with the AEO, who are at the forefront of supporting and shaping the events sector. Through our work with organisations across multiple industries, we’ve seen that one of the biggest challenges isn’t experimenting with AI - it’s scaling responsible and effective use in a way that genuinely supports people’s day-to-day work. That’s exactly why we developed SUSY: to make sure AI empowers event professionals, rather than overwhelming them, as the industry continues to evolve.”

As AEO’s exclusive AI training partner, uptakeAI will have a visible presence across AEO events, member communications and content throughout 2026.