Imagination

Whether AI feels like progress depends entirely on where you started.

For events that have never offered translation, AI simultaneous translation is transformative - opening up access to audiences who've always been in the room but never truly been included. For those used to high-end human interpreters, the same technology can land as a step backwards. The quality gap is noticeable, and it's the audience who suffer.

Most organisations rush to ask whether they can bring AI into their events, but few stop to ask whether they should and what this ultimately means for the audience.

Tom Gray and Simon Levitt joined SXSW London, to explore why that's the question the industry needs to start getting right.

Full episode here: https://imagination.com/latest/fyi-for-your-imagination-ai-events-and-the-cocktail-party-problem/

There's no better introduction to a car than the road you put it on.

For the launch of the Zeekr Europe 7GT, we took the European Media Drive to new heights.

165 tier-1 media, two days in Andalusia, and one curated route where culture meets performance. From the coast at Kimpton Los Monteros Marbella, up through mountain switchbacks, and past Philippe Starck's striking Almazara el Toro before crescendoing at Calvert Studios with a 5-year line-up presentation.

Tight ascents, open coastal roads, every kilometre proved the 7GT’s dynamic capabilities.

We didn’t just plan a driving experience. We converted Europe’s tier-1 media into Zeekr brand advocates.

Incredibly proud of the work our teams put in alongside Zeekr to bring this to life - a big thank you to you all.

Learn more - https://imagination.com/latest/launching-the-7gt-zeekr-takes-the-european-media-drive-to-new-heights/

The best sports sponsorships ingrain themselves into the culture so deeply, you don't even question why they're there.

Look at Red Bull. They've carved out their niche, owning adrenaline sports culture, so their sponsorship feels natural.

Using sport as a vehicle to grow a brand only works if it doesn't feel like a vehicle at all. The brand has to feel like part of that world, not a guest in it.

Tom Washington, Group Marketing Director at Genius Sports, believes that's the level most sponsors should be aiming for.

Learn more in the full FYI episode: https://imagination.com/latest/fyi-for-your-imagination-a-question-of-fandom/

One person speaking live on stage, but everybody in the room hears it in their native language.

That's the promise of AI simultaneous translation, and it's closer than most people think.
But promise and ex*****on are two very different things. Accent recognition, transcription accuracy, and real-time processing all bring their own points of failure. Getting this right is harder than it looks.

Tom Gray and Simon Levitt dig into why this might be the most consequential technology in live events right now, and why so few conferences are actually pulling it off.

Full conversation here: https://imagination.com/latest/fyi-for-your-imagination-ai-events-and-the-cocktail-party-problem/

We are very proud to have partnered with the team at CommBank to bring their inaugural Accelerate AI event to life at the ICC Sydney.

When the team at CommBank approached us with the vision to gather Australia’s business leaders, innovators, and decision-makers to map out the future of artificial intelligence, we knew the timeline would demand something extraordinary. Delivered in under two months, this event is a true testament to what can be achieved through deep collaboration, absolute trust, and a shared commitment to excellence.

From the immersive arrival tunnel that reset attendees' mindsets to start the day, to the dynamic main stage discussions featuring leaders from Sam Altman and Mel Silva to Leah Weckert and Cliff Obrecht, the energy in the room was electric. The event hosted an impressive turnout of C-suite executives and business leaders looking to turn AI ambition into an Australian advantage.

Massive thanks to our partners at CommBank - thank you for trusting us with your vision, collaborating side-by-side with us daily, and pushing us to execute at the highest level.

We also acknowledge the world-class crew at ICC Sydney, our network of the very best teams in production support and delivery and of course the Imagination team.

Stepping away from this inaugural forum, we are reminded that navigating rapid technical disruption requires curiosity, responsibility, and courageous leadership. We are incredibly grateful to have played a small part in shaping this national conversation with our partners.

Commonwealth Bank

Will AI change conferences for the better?

Earlier this month, we took our FYI (For Your Imagination) podcast on the road to SXSW London to unpack how conferences should be using AI to reduce audience friction, make things more personal, and deliver better feedback in real-time.

In this episode, Chief Strategy Officer, Tom Gray, and Global Creative Technology Director, Simon Levitt discuss what good actually looks like, where AI is still falling flat when it comes to events, and the technical challenges organisers are quietly wrestling with behind the scenes. Turns out, getting AI to hear you in a crowded room is harder than you expect.

AI isn’t just about wowing attendees on the main stage, it's about quietly learning in the background, so organisers can stop guessing and start making better decisions in real time.

Watch the full conversation - https://imagination.com/latest/fyi-for-your-imagination-ai-events-and-the-cocktail-party-problem/