Integrate 2026 Adds Standalone AI In AV Mini Conference Focused On Practical Application

Integrate 2026 will include a standalone AI in AV Mini Conference when the trade show runs from 2 to 4 September at ICC Sydney, with the program designed to help audiovisual professionals separate real-world AI applications from industry hype.

The two-hour conference is aimed at AV practitioners who have moved past the question of whether to adopt AI and are now trying to determine which applications deliver meaningful results in production environments.

For much of the AV industry, AI has shifted from a standalone talking point to a capability already embedded inside tools, workflows and day-to-day processes. Client requests increasingly focus on outcomes rather than the technology itself, and the Mini Conference is structured around that shift.

Program structure

The conference is hosted by Anna Acopian, CEO at SafegateAI, Founder of Tech4Growth Australia and Global AI Adviser. Acopian will open the session by framing AI as a practical capability rather than a threat to AV professionals, setting the context for where AI is already appearing in workflows and what the program will cover.

A keynote session titled “The AI Shift Reshaping AV” will examine where AI is changing AV operations and user experience, and where the fundamentals of the discipline – system design, human creativity and trusted partnerships – remain unchanged. The session is intended to help attendees make informed decisions rather than reactive ones.

Two tech talks follow the keynote. The first, “AI Inside the System: Smarter AV Operations & Support,” focuses on how AI is being applied behind the scenes to improve efficiency and reliability. Topics include predictive maintenance, smarter monitoring and AI-assisted troubleshooting, with an emphasis on how these applications reduce downtime and repetitive work for AV teams.

The second tech talk, “From Screens to Stories: AI-Driven Content & Experiences,” looks at the experience-facing side of AI in AV. That session covers generative content and adaptive digital signage while keeping human intent, ethics and storytelling central to the discussion.

The program closes with a panel discussion titled “AI Reality Check: Adoption, Trust, Skills & Ethics,” which brings together integrators, technology providers and end-user organisations. The panel is structured to deliver frank perspectives on what is working, where challenges remain and how teams are building trust around data security and skills development.

Cutting through the noise

Soren Norgaard, Event Director for Integrate, positioned the Mini Conference as a counter to the volume of unsubstantiated AI claims circulating across the industry.

“There is no shortage of claims about AI. What is harder to find is a straight answer on where it holds up under real conditions,” Norgaard explained. “This program is for people who want that answer, not the sales pitch.”

The conference reflects a broader shift in how the AV industry is engaging with AI. Rather than debating the technology’s potential in abstract terms, the sessions are oriented around specific use cases where AI is already deployed in working environments, alongside an honest assessment of where limitations and risks persist.

The inclusion of ethics as a recurring thread across the program – appearing in both the content-focused tech talk and the closing panel – signals an acknowledgment that AI adoption in AV raises questions around data handling, workforce impact and trust that cannot be addressed by technical demonstrations alone.

Ticketing and access

Tickets for the AI in AV Mini Conference start at $200 plus GST for a standalone pass. The session is also included as part of the All Access Pass for Integrate 2026.

Entry to the Integrate 2026 show floor is free with registration, though the Mini Conference and other program sessions are ticketed separately.

Integrate 2026 runs from 2 to 4 September at ICC Sydney, co-located with the Security Exhibition & Conference and the Fire Security Expo. The event brings together the ANZ audiovisual industry’s ecosystem, including technology providers, integrators and end-user organisations.

Last Updated on July 31, 2026 by Nick Ross