Category: Tech & AI Trends

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room, or more accurately, the extra fingers in the photo booth.

AI photo booths are everywhere in 2026. If you’ve attended a brand activation in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, or Austin recently, you’ve probably seen them. Guests walk in looking like themselves and walk out looking like astronauts, movie stars, or anime characters. The technology is undeniably cool. But it’s also imperfect. And if you’re planning a high-stakes activation for a corporate client or luxury brand, those imperfections can turn into brand disasters.

The good news? The technology has come a long way. The bad news? Not everyone operating these booths knows how to manage the risks. At Studio Z, we’ve spent the past year running hundreds of generative AI photo booth activations across the country, and we’ve learned exactly where the tech shines, and where it trips over its own algorithmic feet. Continue reading “AI Photo Booths in 2026: The Good, The Bad, and the ‘Extra Fingers’ Problem”

Event swag has a problem. The tote bags end up in closets. The branded pens run out of ink. The stress balls get tossed in airport security. But a personalized caricature sketch of your face, drawn by a robot in 60 seconds? That’s going on the fridge. That’s getting posted to Instagram. That’s the kind of takeaway people actually remember.

Also: this isn’t “random gadget” energy. The AI Portrait Robot took home IAAPA’s 1st Place for Best New Product, and that matters when you’re choosing tech that has to perform in real-world event conditions—Vegas show floors, LA premieres, SXSW chaos, you name it.

Welcome to the AI Sketch Lab, where robotic arms, machine learning, and old-school artistic craftsmanship collide to create the most engaging brand activation photo booth experience you didn’t know you needed. If you’re exploring what AI can do for your event (and what booking actually looks like), start here: our AI Sketch Lab service page.

Continue reading “AI Sketch Lab: Why Robotic Drawing is the Ultimate Event Swag in 2026”

Something interesting is happening at the highest-end events right now. While everyone else is chasing AI filters and 360 spins, the luxury brands are going backward: and they’re doing it on purpose.

Enclosed photo booths are back. Not the sad carnival curtain versions from 2008. We’re talking about sleek, vintage-inspired privacy pods with high-flash photography, film grain aesthetics, and zero screens. The result is an experience that feels rare, intimate, and impossibly cool. Continue reading “The Return of the Enclosed Photo Booth: Why 'Privacy' is the Top 2026 Event Trend”

You’re planning a high-stakes brand activation and you know you need something more than a standard photo booth. Your team is weighing two very different capture technologies: cinema robots (Glambots) and generative AI photo booths. Both deliver next-level content, but they create entirely different experiences, and choosing the wrong one can mean missing your KPIs.

This is the choice brands are navigating in 2026. The good news? Once you understand the vibe, output, and logistics of each, the decision becomes clear. Continue reading “From Robots to AI: How to Choose the Right High-Tech Event Capture for Your 2026 Brand Activation”

Hybrid events aren’t a temporary solution anymore: they’re the new standard. Your brand needs to reach attendees whether they’re walking your booth at a Las Vegas trade show or dialing in from their home office in Tokyo. That’s where professional-grade online photo booths come into play.

We’re not talking about consumer selfie apps. We’re talking about enterprise-level activations that deliver the same branded experience, data capture, and social amplification whether your guest is in-person or remote. In 2026, if your activation strategy doesn’t include a virtual component, you’re leaving money and engagement on the table. Continue reading “The 2026 Guide to Online & Virtual Photo Booths for Hybrid Brand Activations”

Your guest just stepped into your activation. Thirty seconds later, they’re staring at themselves as the face of your next ad campaign, styled, lit, and composited into a luxury lifestyle scene so convincing they’re already tagging your brand on Instagram.

That’s not a Photoshop team working overtime. That’s generative AI, and it’s rewriting the playbook for brand activations in 2026.

If you’re still thinking of photo booths as “smile, click, print,” you’re about to get lapped. The brands winning attention at trade shows, product launches, and experiential pop-ups aren’t handing out generic snapshots anymore. They’re using AI photo booth technology to create hyper-realistic, one-of-a-kind content that turns every guest into a walking billboard.

And the kicker? The whole process takes less time than it takes to order a latte. Continue reading “Generative AI: The Future of Brand Activations”

You’re planning a brand activation and you want that wow factor. The kind that stops people mid-scroll. The type of content guests actually share: not just once, but repeatedly. Two premium video activations dominate the conversation right now: the Glambot (Cinema Robot) and the 360 Booth.

Both create stunning, shareable content. Both elevate your event beyond the standard photo booth experience. But they serve very different purposes, and choosing the wrong one can mean wasted budget or missed engagement opportunities.

Let’s break down exactly what each activation delivers, where they shine, and which one wins for your specific brand event goals.

If you’re tracking where high-end cinematic event tech is headed, expect more camera robotics, instant delivery workflows, and content-first guest experiences year over year. Here’s a solid industry overview: Event Technology Trends. Continue reading “Glambot vs 360 Booth Comparison”

Walk into any major Las Vegas trade show, corporate event, or brand activation this year and you’ll notice something: the lines aren’t forming at traditional photo booths anymore. They’re gathering around sleek robotic arms that move with precision, capturing red carpet-style slow motion footage that turns everyday moments into cinematic gold.

Glambot cinema robots have officially arrived in Vegas, and they’re changing how brands think about experiential marketing. What started as exclusive Hollywood technology: the same systems used at the Oscars and Grammy Awards: is now accessible for corporate events, trade shows, and brand activations across the Strip and beyond.

Here’s why your next Las Vegas event needs this technology, what it actually delivers, and how to choose the right setup for your budget and goals. Continue reading “Why Everyone Is Talking About Glambot Cinema Robots in Vegas (And You Should Too)”

AI photo booths aren’t just the next shiny trend: they’re becoming the backbone of successful photo booth activations in 2025. If you’re still thinking AI means robots taking over your events, you’re missing the real story. These systems are quietly revolutionizing how attendees engage with your brand activations, and smart event planners are already capitalizing on the advantages. Continue reading “AI Photo Booth Secrets: What Event Planners Need to Know in 2025”