Conference attendees can get bored – but AI can spice things up

At this year’s Shift conference, AI took the gamification of chatbots to the next level. A single QR code captivated users, keeping them engaged on their mobile phones for hours as they dove into the thrilling Shift game.

Kristijan Opacak

AI Digital Customer Success Associate at Infobip

In the months leading up to Shift, the largest developer conference in Southeast Europe, the small team had ambitious goals.

Ideas were abundant, and brainstorming sessions were nonstop. While many teams contributed to the early concepts, it wasn’t until two months before Shift’s official launch that the true structure of the Chatbot was finalized.

This Chatbot was envisioned to become the largest Game Bot ever created for a conference.

And that’s how Shift Quest was born

We had too many ideas, and it was tough to separate the good ones from the bad.

Initially, we started working on the Confluence bot, but that turned out to be just the beginning of our challenges.

Our turning point came with the Miro board – it became our lifeline, helping us visualize and refine the concept of the game bot as development progressed.

The result was Shift Quest, an interactive AI assistant designed specifically for the Shift Conference in Zadar.

Shift Quest combined the practical functionality of a conference guide with the engaging elements of a digital game.

Its primary purpose was to help participants navigate the event while offering them fun, interactive “quests” to complete.

The chatbot allowed users to interact through voice commands and engage with augmented reality (AR) elements, blending practical assistance with gamified exploration.

More than just an information tool, Shift Quest became a friendly companion -guiding attendees, sparking their curiosity, and adding an enjoyable layer to the conference experience.

Engaging, game-like experience with AI, voice, and AR

The results were pretty fantastic. Shift Quest attracted far more players than expected, and attendees spent a good amount of time exploring the event with it, showing how engaging it was.

Also, feedback was overwhelmingly positive; participants really enjoyed the combination of guidance and playful elements. The approach struck a chord, keeping attendees interested and connected to the conference experience throughout.

Shift Quest was built on a blend of conversational AI, advanced voice recognition, and augmented reality (AR).

This combination made it more than just a regular text-based chatbot. Voice commands enabled hands-free interaction, which felt natural and convenient, while AR added a visual, immersive component that brought a lot of fun to the experience. This layered use of technology truly sets it apart from other event chatbots, giving it a richer, game-like feel.

Shift Quest offered a unique experience by combining practical guidance with interactive gameplay.

Attendees could complete quests, collect virtual items, and explore different parts of the conference through the chatbot’s suggestions, making the event much more interactive.

It wasn’t just providing information; it actively guided and rewarded exploration. Features like voice commands and AR made it feel like attendees were part of an ongoing story, which was both fun and useful.

Seamless AR & voice magic

But none of this came without challenges; the biggest one was integrating AR and voice technology in a way that felt seamless and responsive.

We aimed for real-time interactions, which required optimizing API calls and fine-tuning the voice engine to accommodate various accents and speech patterns.

Through a process of trial and error, we were able to enhance performance and ensure a smooth experience. Constant testing and adjustments allowed us to deliver a high-quality experience for the event. Real-time communication was essential to making Shift Quest feel alive and engaging.

This level of responsiveness created a dynamic, connected experience, keeping users engaged with fresh challenges based on real-time conditions.

The key to engaging chatbots?

Shift Quest raised the bar by integrating multiple next-edge technologies into an experience that was both functional and entertaining.

For developers, the big takeaway is the importance of combining tools like voice and AR to move beyond simple text-based interfaces. Designing with flexibility is vital, allowing the chatbot to adapt to different user needs while remaining personalized and engaging.

Crafting a chatbot users enjoy requires balancing innovative technology with a strong emphasis on user experience.

Jan 23rd, 2025
3 min read

Kristijan Opacak

AI Digital Customer Success Associate at Infobip