Big Red M executive VP, Association Chat Founder, and 2025 ASAE Academy of Leaders Award winner Kiki L’Italien joins Geoff Livingston to discuss the evolving landscape of AI in the association sector, touching on its opportunities and challenges.

Despite the hype around AI's potential to replace jobs, both agree that associations are more likely to benefit from AI in terms of improved efficiency rather than job losses.

KiKi and Geoff talk about the importance of trust, the impact of AI on jobs, and the need for better understanding and utilization of available technologies. They also touch on the importance of intellectual property, cybersecurity, and the barriers to adopting AI-driven solutions in associations.

00:00 Intro

04:36 AI Adoption in Associations

08:05 Challenges and Resistance in AI Implementation

17:31 Future of AI and Job Market Speculations

22:51 Salesforce's Struggles with Agent Force Adoption

23:55 Challenges in the Association Space

24:37 The Importance of Customization and Personalization

29:12 Opportunities with AI and Data

31:19 Trust and Intellectual Property in Associations

36:06 Barriers and Education in Associations

40:31 The Role of Technology in Associations

About KiKi L’Italien

As the Executive VP of Marketing and Community Engagement at Big Red M, KiKi L'Italien enables associations to grow their revenue and impact through research, sales, and consulting. With over a decade of experience as a chief strategist, she has delivered technology and marketing consultation and digital transformation guidance to clients across various sectors, facilitating improved member engagement and event experiences. She has also written and produced multiple courses and an ebook on Generative AI and budgeting for associations.
KiKi L'Italien is also the CEO and Editor-In-Chief of Association Chat, an online community, blog, and podcast that she founded in 2009. Association Chat connects, educates, and inspires association professionals through compelling interviews, insightful content, and interactive events. With over 72k annual subscribers, Association Chat is a recognized and respected source of information and inspiration in the association industry.

For her long-term commitment and contributions to the association community and society at large, KiKi was honored with the Association of Association Executives (ASAE) 2025 Academy of Leaders Award.

KiKi’s LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kikilitalien/

Association Chat - https://associationchat.com/

Big Red M - https://bigredm.com/

The Trust Project - https://thetrustproject.substack.com/

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