Interview: AI Isn’t the Point: Designing Human Connection in Business Events with Álvaro Meléndez

In this Interview, Álvaro Meléndez challenges event professionals to rethink artificial intelligence not as a productivity tool, but as a powerful collaborator for designing deeper human relationships. Drawing from his “AI Circus” keynote at Convening LATAM 2026 and his PEPA framework, Álvaro explains why the business events industry is uniquely positioned to lead responsible AI adoption—and why focusing solely on speed, scale, and automation puts the industry at risk. Links:PEPA: A Field Guide for Event Organizers Who Refuse to Be Prey to Bad AI:  https://gamma.app/docs/PEPA-A-Field-Guide-for-Event-Organizers-Who-Refuse-to-Be-Prey-to--xguty9fudunk6kh?mode=docMarketing AI Institute Podcast: https://www.marketingaiinstitute.com/ai-beginners-guide/podcastsFollow Convene:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine X: https://x.com/pcmaconvene  Contact Information: For any questions, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000 qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra