17 Versions, One Room

I had 17 versions of my presentation ready for yesterday.

Yes. Seventeen.

I love presenting, especially to people who build things. Put me in a room full of manufacturers, engineers, and robotics people, and I’m going to have a good time. Yesterday at SICK’s RES event was exactly that.

But before I get too far into a presentation, I want to understand who’s in front of me.

Some people in the room were already deep into AI. Many were still getting comfortable with the basics. I wanted everyone to be able to participate, ask questions, and leave with something useful.

So I adjusted. More explanation where it was needed. Working products, live demos, and examples to make the ideas concrete. Conversations about where the industry might be going and what that could mean for the people doing the work.

That’s how I like to present. I want it to be two-way. I want to learn something from the room, too.

And afterward? I still had that moment of, “Did that actually work?”

The positive feedback was a relief. But I also walked away thinking about how I could make the whole experience better.

Right now, my setup is a bit of a hodgepodge. Multiple tabs open. Different examples ready. Jumping between sections depending on where the conversation goes.

There has to be a better way to manage that.

This is where I think AI could help. I want to adapt the depth, examples, demos, and supporting visuals live, based on what the audience needs. If a question takes us somewhere useful, I want the presentation to be able to follow.

I’m doing pieces of that manually today. I’d love to make it smoother.

Next up is AEM Annual, where I’ll be working with heavy equipment companies in more of a workshop format. More interaction. More room for people to bring their own questions and experiences.

I’m looking forward to what that room can teach me, too.

What do you use to get people involved beyond a slide deck? Live demos, videos, exercises, something else?

I’d love to hear what works for you.