Wow. AI was everywhere at ISE 2025. And no, I don’t just mean in the marketing. The innovations showcased at the event? They’re real, and they’re going to change the way we think about AV.

I’ll admit—I was skeptical. We’ve been hearing about AI for a while now, and so much of it has felt like empty buzz, or at the very least a bit repetitive. But after this week, I’m convinced. AI isn’t just a gimmick; it’s literally reshaping automation, analytics, and user experience in AV. Here are a few things that stood out to me.

AI Knows If You’re Paying Attention

BrightSign’s booth had something that made me do a double take. Their new AI-powered signage can detect an “engaged viewer” and dynamically adjust content in real time. Imagine a retail display that shifts messaging based on how long someone lingers in front of it. The implications for digital signage and analytics are massive.

AI in Meetings

Let’s talk about meetings. AI is making them smarter, and frankly, less painful.

Take Yealink’s multi-camera solutions, for example. Multi-camera setups aren’t new, but Yealink’s AI-powered coordination takes them to another level. Their latest innovations include triple-eye and multi-eye solutions that track speakers with insane precision. Cameras switch seamlessly between wide-angle views and close-ups, making sure that every participant is framed correctly, whether they’re in a huddle room or a large conference space. And when paired with Microsoft IntelliFrame, AI doesn’t just track who’s talking—it recognizes “who said what,” enabling intelligent meeting summaries through Microsoft Copilot.

Speaking of which, the concept of AI attending meetings for you isn’t just theoretical anymore. Imagine an AI tool that joins a meeting in your place, summarizes key points, and lets you skip the fluff. We’re not quite there yet, but companies are working on it. And when it happens? Oh boy.

AI Designs AV Systems for You

We know AI can analyze data. But what about designing an entire AV system? That’s exactly where things are headed.

Companies like Yealink and Korbyt are leading the charge with AI-powered automation for system design and deployment. Imagine setting up a large conference room and having AI calculate the best placement for cameras, speakers, and microphones—all in seconds. Korbyt is also integrating AI into its workplace experience platform, using large language models to automate digital signage content creation while maintaining brand consistency.

And then there’s hardware. Qualcomm’s QCM8550 processor is now pushing up to 48 TOPS of AI computing power, meaning AV devices can process complex AI tasks faster and more efficiently. It’s a small shift that will have a huge impact on the industry.

I’ll be honest—I’m still wary of AI taking over too much. But after ISE, I’m convinced that AI in AV isn’t about replacing people; it’s about making tools smarter, workflows smoother, and experiences better. ISE 2025 may be over, but the impact of AI on the AV industry is just beginning.