Looking back on our experience at digitalNow 2024, we are energized and inspired by the wealth of insights shared. It was both an honor to present and a privilege to engage with some of the most forward-thinking leaders in association leadership. 

From thought-provoking discussions to cutting-edge presentations, the event underscored the profound impact of AI in fostering meaningful growth and innovation. Below are some of the key takeaways our team gathered from this groundbreaking event:

1. AI Project Challenge: Amit Nagarajan, the chairman of Blue Cypress, opened with a challenge for attendees to implement at least one AI project within a year, setting a forward-looking tone for the conference.
2. AI Potential in Associations: While many industries have clear AI applications, practical implementation of AI in associations remained (seemingly) limited. Much of the discussion focused on theoretical or aspirational AI goals, rather than current, tangible uses within the association space.
3. Examples from Other Sectors: Presentations highlighted AI applications in government and healthcare, which sparked interest but underscored the need for similar innovation within associations.
4. Future Awards for AI: To encourage AI adoption, DigitalNow announced plans to recognize AI achievements in the association space at next year’s event. The hope is that leaders will initiate projects that can then serve as examples for others.
5. Operational AI Use Cases: Internal applications, like content creation, organizing resources, and improving efficiency in tasks such as tagging content or structuring information, are areas where AI is already being explored.
6. Focus on Member Experience: More work needs to be done to explore how AI can be involved in enhancing the member experience — examples discussed include improving search functionality, personalized learning opportunities, AI-generated event digests, and chat support enhancements.
7. Need for Practical AI Examples: The overall consensus was that more concrete examples of AI’s impact in associations are needed, with digitalNow leaders encouraging attendees to be the innovators driving this transformation.

Interested in learning more about how to integrate AI into your Association’s digital presence? Reach out to us! You can also learn more about our work with Associations here.