Artificial intelligence is disrupting business models across various sectors, yet in the global theme park industry valued at $100 billion, actual experiences outweigh technological gimmicks. Fiona Eastwood, CEO of Merlin Entertainments, emphasizes the importance of physical thrills as a counterbalance to digital distractions. Despite integrating technology, including AI, she believes that genuine experiences like rollercoasters are irreplaceable. The unsuccessful attempt to incorporate virtual reality on rides highlighted how such tech can isolate rather than connect visitors, underscoring the significance of shared experiences in theme parks.
In a world dominated by battles over screen time, it is real-life experiences that provide families with an antidote to phones and digital technology. Technology has a role, but you can't beat the real experience of height, speed, and big metal.
We discovered that virtual reality headsets took people away from being together; they felt on their own, they may as well have been at home.
AI and other tech use cases are underway, but ultimately it's the real [life] experience that we are delivering.
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