When AI started making waves in the speaking world, I had a conversation with Mary Kelly, Commander, USN, CSP, CPAE, one of our top speakers who books 100+ events yearly. Her response? “I love AI.”
Wait, what?
Here was her logic: Speakers who rely on AI-generated content won’t be able to answer real questions or show genuine belief in their message. They’ll get found out fast, leaving more bookings for authentic speakers like her.
Smart positive thinking.
Look, I’m not anti-AI. We all use it whether we realize it or not: spell check, Google searches, and research tools. But there’s a big difference between using AI as a tool and letting it replace your authentic voice.
Here’s What AI Can’t Do
Read the room: That moment when you feel the audience isn’t with you? Great speakers pivot instantly. AI can’t sense that energy shift or know when to ditch some things you planned to say or share because the room needs something completely different.
Get real about failures: The most powerful moments happen when speakers drop the polished act and share their actual mess-ups. Raw honesty? AI can fake it, but audiences smell the difference.
Navigate unspoken dynamics: Every organization has politics and tensions bubbling under the surface. Experienced speakers read between the lines and address what’s really going on. AI misses those subtle cues entirely.
Bring that “it” factor: Some speakers just command attention the second they walk on stage. Call it charisma, presence, energy; it’s what makes people lean in instead of checking their phones.
Roll with chaos: Fire alarm goes off? Curveball question? Unexpected announcement? Human speakers turn disruptions into memorable moments.
One thing I love about running a speakers bureau? I get to learn from incredible people every day. Recently, I sat down with another one of our speakers, Hardy Smith, IOM, a high-energy nonprofit and strategic planning keynote speaker and bestselling author, who shared some practical AI tips that actually make sense!
Hardy’s AI Tips
Venture out and play with AI for yourself! There are many AI platforms out there, and they’re all different. Ask the same question to different platforms, and you’ll get different answers. You have to choose platforms that are best suited for what you want the tool to do. Take the time to learn.
When using AI for research. If you’re going to quote directly what you were given from an AI platform, make sure you ask for the attributes. (Coming from the ethical view, I still verify other sources to make sure I give proper credit for what I’m quoting.)
The Bottom Line
AI should help you find information, not replace your voice. Double down on what makes you unmistakably human.
Because here’s the thing: audiences don’t just want information anymore. They want connection and transformation!
And that’s still ours to give!
What’s your take? Are you using AI in your speaking business? Drop a comment, I’d love to hear your perspective.
