Chris Granger Urges Humanity and Connection at 2026 VenuesNow Conference Opening

The 2026 VenuesNow Conference at Sheraton Grand Seattle opened with Oak View Group CEO Chris Granger encouraging attendees to focus on preserving humanity and fostering connection. AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude can improve intelligence, efficiency, and personalization, but cannot replicate the feeling of belonging.

Granger uses ChatGPT daily to monitor what’s happening in the live event business: “And perhaps not surprisingly, it comes out with a whole host of things like personalization, optimization, efficiency, frictionless and premium. But in so doing, what it leaves out is the heart of what we do. And as much as everyone is increasingly obsessing about so-called intelligence, I wonder if the real competitive advantage does lie up here, but it lies in here,” Granger said, pointing to his heart.

Granger went on to remind the assembled venue executives that they are the “humanity” business.

“We bring people together to laugh, to cheer, to sing, to dance. We shine a light on all the things that matter in life,” he said. “The algorithm can’t do that. The algorithm can create video. It can create music. It can speak for us; it can think for us. But what it can’t do is create the feeling of belonging.”

Granger continued, “That’s the business of humanity, and I think our job when we’re at our best is to remind people what being human is all about. …Don’t lose the humanity of it all. In a world where so much of what we are about to intake is virtual or is artificial, the prospect of real is going to become increasingly valuable. The prospect of real is going to be increasingly sought after, and real is going to be our contribution to the world.”

_Originally reported by [Pollstar](https://news.pollstar.com/2026/09/29/chris-granger-opens-2026-venuesnow-conference-with-heart/)._