A brand-new feature for this year’s ProMatDX virtual event, the Grip matchmaking portal takes networking to a new level by infusing it with artificial intelligence (AI). Using demographics provided by the sponsors and attendees, and then incorporating data from other sources, Grip determines best fits for attendee-sponsor interactions.
“This will eliminate time-wasting during the event,” said Daniel McKinnon, MHI’s executive VP of exhibitions and events, who added that the AI-enabled networking tool will also be used at the live Modex event scheduled for March 2022.
To get the most out of Grip, McKinnon tells attendees to watch the video tutorials (the links are provided at registration), which will help “guide the engagement and the meeting spaces created during ProMatDX.”
McKinnon said attendees should also be very specific when filling out their profiles, and suggests they narrow down their selections to specific topics, products or technologies of interest. That way, the AI can do its job and match individuals up with the most appropriate networking opportunities based on the attendee’s and sponsor’s demographics and preferences.
“You don’t want to end up with hundreds of thousands of invites and recommendations,” said McKinnon, who also tells attendees to “clear out their space” regularly (by either accepting or declining invites) to make room for new invites.
It’s also important to note that Grip’s AI will get smarter as the show progresses, and as it learns more about the individuals who are participating in it. “The more it’s used, the smarter it becomes,” he said. “Grip watches which invites you accept and decline, and then uses that information to make future recommendations that align best with the attendee’s requirements.”