ISE 2026: AI, Smart Spaces, and Cybersecurity Trends

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The professional audiovisual industry approaches the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 conference at a moment when AI is rapidly advancing, reshaping not only software but also hardware.Mike Blackman, managing director of Integrated Systems Events, views the upcoming exhibition as a sign of how the built environment and commercial sectors are adapting to these changes. In an interview with EE Times, he described a future in which smart buildings manage energy autonomously and retail spaces use immersive experiences to remain relevant.However, he warned that quickly digitizing physical infrastructure creates serious risks, especially in cybersecurity and with stricter European data protection laws.

AI moves to hardwareFor years, most discussion of AI in audiovisual technology focused on content creation. Software tools that generate graphics or virtual sets were the main topic. According to Blackman, this is changing. AI is becoming a core part of the industry and is now built directly into hardware.

By OToBrite Electronics, Inc. 01.23.2026

The clearest example of this change is in corporate real estate, especially in smart meeting rooms. Professional AV and building-systems manufacturers are now adding presence sensors and machine learning directly into room controls. These tools automatically manage energy use and sound quality.
Mike Blackman (Source: ISE)“If it’s your office and you’re used to having the temperature at 24 degrees, it knows it’s you and it automatically adjusts to your comfort,” Blackman said. These systems also support sustainability; when a room is empty, “the temperature goes down…the heating is not there, or the air conditioning goes off.”The technology now lets audio systems adjust based on room occupancy. Blackman described systems that count people and set the right sound profile: “It automatically senses, okay, there are two people…now there are 15 people. That changes the reverberation. It changes the density,” he explained. Microphones and speakers “adapt automatically to sense that.”Blackman pointed to “The Edge”, EY’s Dutch headquarters in Amsterdam, as a leading example of smart, energy-efficient infrastructure. Windows manage heat and generate energy. Parking systems read license plates and guide drivers to the nearest elevator. “It’s using artificial intelligence to actually adapt the information and use it in a positive way,” he said.Pivot to experiential retailWhile corporate spaces aim for efficiency, the retail sector is using audiovisual technology to adapt after the pandemic, which Blackman called a “disaster for retail.” As shoppers get used to online convenience, physical stores must become destinations, not just places to buy things.“Retail stores that have survived…become experiential,” Blackman observed. “You’re not just going shopping to get something. You’re going shopping as an outing.”To make this happen, retailers are keeping less inventory and focusing more on digital experiences. Blackman pointed out the rise of “smart mirrors” in clothing stores. These mirrors scan shoppers’ measurements and let them try on clothes virtually.“You’ll see yourself in that mirror wearing that jacket, but you haven’t tried it on. You haven’t undressed,” he noted. This model allows for radical changes in logistics. One store in Madrid operates with “no warehouse, no storage.” Purchases are shipped directly to the consumer after the digital trial.The automotive industry is using a similar approach to reach city centers where space is expensive. Blackman mentioned companies like Tesla and BYD. These companies are opening showrooms in prime locations, but in smaller spaces. Instead of displaying many cars, some showrooms now use projection mapping on plain clay models.“All they have is a clay model in the middle. You can go and configure your car,” he explained. A customer puts a tab for a wheel design or color onto a sensor. “It puts these wheels on that car…it’s a projection.” This setup lets a single model show the entire product line. AI and AV are used to “configure things and make experiences change the way we think, the way we shop.”Cybersecurity and vulnerability of systemsAs audiovisual systems move onto IT networks, they also introduce new security vulnerabilities. These are common to IoT, such as unauthorized access and exploitation via unsecured connections. Blackman warned that as “more and more AV installations and solutions are based over IP networks, they become vulnerable” to cyberattacks.(Source: Magdelyns/Pixabay)Blackman said he realized the seriousness of these cybersecurity risks during a recent briefing with the Spanish intelligence service in Madrid. The session demonstrated methods hackers use to penetrate unsecured networks, such as those in public places. “I would never do my banking at an airport ever again,” he said. “It’s one of the worst places you can go online.”This vulnerability is a pressing concern for systems integrators because corporate clients are increasingly asking about threats like unauthorized network access, data theft, and potential system manipulation. “The customer is going to say, ‘But is it safe? Can hackers get into my network, get into my business, steal my data?’” Blackman said. To address these concerns, ISE has launched a cybersecurity summit, led by Pere Ferrer, the former director of Catalonia’s police, to teach integrators specific strategies to protect their systems from hacking and data breaches.Regulatory headwinds and executive liabilityThe move toward smarter, data-driven environments is running into strict European regulations. These include the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the updated network and information systems (NIS2) directive. NIS2 aims to improve cybersecurity across the EU.Blackman stressed that following these rules is now a personal risk for leaders. It is no longer just a financial risk for companies. Under the new directives, “not only companies are liable, but executives are also,” he warned. Breaking the rules can be a “criminal offense.”A recent case at one of Barcelona’s largest trade shows showed the legal limits on technology. The organizers were fined about €200,000 (about $234,000) for using facial recognition at the entrance. Blackman shared a story about a data protection expert. She filed a complaint against the event.The problem was not the technology itself, but the lack of consent and control over the data. “She didn’t have an option to say no to facial recognition. Secondly, the data was stored outside of Europe,” he explained.These regulations create a clear limit for some technologies that are already possible today. Blackman mentioned the 2002 film “Minority Report.” In one scene, biometric scanners display personalized ads to a character as he walks through a mall.“That’s the ultimate in artificial intelligence working,” Mike Blackman said. “It is possible today to do it. It is technically possible, but it’s the law that stops us doing it.”Looking ahead to ISE, the industry must balance these trends: seizing AI-powered opportunities while navigating cyber threats and data rules. Blackman’s message is clear—advance with new technology, but prioritize careful, secure use.