Reijo Loik

Founder, PortrAI Estonia

Reijo Loik is the Founder of PortrAI Estonia, an AI activation specialist and one of the early innovators applying generative AI to live events and experiential marketing.

After discovering AI image generation in 2023, Reijo became fascinated by its potential to transform guest experiences. Rather than relying on existing tools, he built his own AI photo booth solution from the ground up, creating fully AI-generated experiences long before they became widely available in the events industry.

With no formal software development background, Reijo taught himself how to build custom AI systems through experimentation, online communities and emerging AI technologies. What started as a personal project quickly evolved into a fully operational AI photo booth platform.

In 2024, Reijo’s self-built AI activation received international recognition at the Booth Mastermind Awards in Las Vegas, where he won two industry awards. His work has since powered hundreds of events, generated more than 100,000 AI-created images and helped establish him as a leading voice in AI-powered event experiences.

Reijo was also among the first operators globally to successfully deliver AI-generated group photography experiences that maintained realistic likeness and recognisable participants, solving one of the biggest technical challenges in early AI event photography.

Today, through PortrAI, Reijo develops highly customised AI activations, interactive event experiences and innovative applications of generative AI for brands, agencies and event professionals across Europe.

AI In Action: What’s Actually Working at Live Events

AI is one of the biggest talking points in the event industry right now. New tools, new platforms and new ideas seem to appear every week.

But beyond the headlines and hype, what is actually working at live events?

In this session, Reijo will share real-world examples from the hundreds of AI activations and experiences he has delivered, including award-winning campaigns, large-scale brand activations, virtual experiences and innovative projects from across Europe.

You’ll see how AI is being used to create engaging guest experiences, generate shareable content, attract attention on event floors and deliver measurable value for clients and brands.

Reijo will also share lessons learned from building custom AI solutions and using industry softwares, launching some of the industry’s earliest AI-powered event experiences and generating more than 100,000 AI-created images for events and marketing campaigns.

Whether you’re just starting to explore AI or already offering AI experiences, this session will provide practical insights, proven examples and fresh ideas that you can apply to your own business.

Key Takeaways:

  • Real examples of AI experiences being used at live events today
  • What guests engage with and what clients are buying
  • Lessons learned from delivering hundreds of AI-powered activations
  • Opportunities for photo booth and event businesses in the AI space
  • How AI is evolving and where the industry is heading next