What do you do if artificial intelligence disrupts the public speaking industry?

“We eat a credit cards worth of plastic each week” This was an insight from a professor turned startup founder In my minds eye I could see an image of people blissfully munching on credit cards Finding this image on a stock library would take hours Sketching this image would dilute the emotion I wanted to create So I used AI to “imagine it” Within 20 minutes & 6-7 prompts I had a grotesque horror image That 1000-yard stare, absurd grin, 6 fingers Adults & kids, cellophane wrapped gloss It was so perfect we didn’t use it in the TEDx talk Why? It would have derailed the speakers performance & message However it was useful in the process It helped myself & the speaker get on the same page AI is amazing for visualizing concepts

AI can never competite with public speaking as it will never have that that humanity touch with emotions. No doubt AI is giving different aspect and view but can never challenge the effectiveness of public speaking. AI removes the sense of uniqueness in the thought process maintaining the uniformity among others.

Public speaking is connecting heart to heart with emotional intelligence. Yes, AI is disrupting by giving unique aspects of the content; however, the effectiveness of the speech cannot be replaced by AI, even with any complex algorithm.

To thrive in a public speaking landscape driven by AI, embracing technology is crucial. Utilize AI as a powerful tool to refine your speeches, gain deep insights from audience data, and customize your content. AI provides real-time feedback, enabling you to understand which parts of your speech resonate with the audience. By integrating AI into your preparation process, you can create more impactful messages tailored to your audience's preferences, significantly boosting your effectiveness as a speaker. What would you say to someone who says relying on AI for speech refinement and audience insights may lead to a lack of authenticity and human connection in public speaking?

Public speaking was disrupted during the pandemic, and these tips can prepare you for the future: Set your self up for a hybrid speaking future, with physical, virtual and hybrid speaking opportunities. Leverage AI as a co-pilot for research of topics and preparation of talk tracks. Pick 3-5 signature themes fotr your talks that you keep fresh and at the fore front of market insights. Pitch yourself to impactful face-to-face and digital events Experiment with video production for your owned channels with AI as an enabler to reduce production efforts

Our specialty as a human being is to connect with other human beings on a very personal level. That personal touch should be our focus. Treating people as people and making them feel duly respected and cared for is the key. Don't see your audience as people whom you want to impress, but look at them as people whom you can deeply connect and help them in their journey. This personal touch is an absolute game-changer.

The key is to enhance your skills while embracing AI. Continuously improve your communication, storytelling, and emotional intelligence to connect authentically with audiences. Utilize AI tools to analyze audience engagement, optimize content, and refine delivery techniques. By merging human touch with AI insights, you can stay relevant and impactful. Remember, technology is a tool to enhance, not replace, the unique value of human connection in public speaking.

It's really important to work your human skills! AI can't mimic storytelling or emotional intelligence (yet). Focus on developing those skills, and relating to your audience. By honing these, you'll create a more compelling and memorable presence on stage. Your ability to connect with an audience on a personal level will always be your edge over any AI content.

Upskill and reskill : Stay ahead of the curve by acquiring skills that complement AI's capabilities. Focus on: - Creative storytelling - Emotional intelligence - Complex problem-solving - Critical thinking - Empathy and audience understanding By upskilling and reskilling, you'll become the "human glue" that AI can't replicate, making your public speaking skills future-proof.

Explore opportunities beyond the stage consulting, coaching, content creation, and virtual speaking engagements. Embrace AI tools to expand your reach and adapt to new formats. By broadening your skill set and offering multiple services, you can stay relevant and thrive in an evolving landscape.

As an engineer who has done some public speaking, each unique role I’ve held has given me more to talk about to an audience. For the first time in my career, I feel confident sharing the things I’ve learned in tech. By expanding your skill set, even outside of public speaking itself, you can become a better speaker. Diversifying your roles not only strengthens your career but also enriches the content and insights you bring to your audience.

AI is not replacing public speakers but transforming their role. Instead of being solely reliant on oratory skills, speakers become hybrid professionals. They transition from mere presenters to strategic communicators, leveraging AI for data analysis, content creation, and audience interaction. This diversification allows speakers to focus on higher-level tasks such as developing thought leadership, crafting compelling narratives, and building deeper audience connections. By creating AI-driven content, such as podcasts, webinars, and virtual events, speakers can expand their reach and impact. Ultimately, the integration of AI empowers speakers to become more strategic, versatile, and effective in their roles.

Connect with peers in your field to share tips and experiences. For me, networking with other engineers and speakers has led to new opportunities and collaborations. Go to events, join online communities, and reach out to people who's work you like. By growing your network strategically, you can stay on top of trends, learn from others, and get support.

An event I’ve recently attended no doubt had AI involvement even if the composers didn’t declare so. However, the winning formula is personal engagement by the organizers, serving real food and refreshments, having live musicians enhancing the atmosphere, etc. These human touches augment the experience which definitely included AI elements but the latter alone would be sterile and unattractive.

It never will. No matter how advanced AI is, it’ll never substitute the human experience, especially coping with vulnerability, that human relations offer. AI can create environments but not empathy because the latter needs human connections. What is even the use of any public speaking event that doesn’t build on values, bridges the gap or creates lasting memories, and instead ends up becoming a controlled learning experiment. Experiences over things. Emotions over theories. Empathy over toolkit.

If AI disrupts the public speaking industry, pivot to public whispering—less crowd, more intrigue! In all seriousness, adapt by mastering tech tools, emphasizing human connection, and offering uniquely personal insights that no algorithm can replicate. AI can process information thousands of times faster than we can, but it can't replicate the heart of a message. It might write poems filled with thoughts, but they'll lack the essence that gives them meaning. We remember 'The Solitary Reaper' or speeches by great leaders not just for their words, but for the central theme that connects those thoughts.

My observation about public speaking these days is, as such public speaking is a dying art. As more people are trying to be like robots and AI will only amplify that. I recon AI has a long way to go. What the current broth of public speakers can do is try to be more human by just being more emotional, there are a lot of speeches on record from the recent past which could be used as reference. One need not be accurate to the script to the dot, it’s ok to take pauses . One could also Include some personal experiences, some really good examples, Add some humor, emotion etc.

Humanise your presentation. Weave in your life experiences, good and bad, and push for emotional impact rather than knowledge transfer. We cannot out logic / out fact AI, but we can, currently, out human it.

Knowledge is power. Staying updated makes me confident. I use technology for my benefit,without being it's slave,same goes for AI. I offer my experiences and insights which keeps my work in demand when compared to AI.

Data-Driven Insights Performance Metrics: AI can track and analyze performance metrics over time, helping speakers identify trends and areas for continuous improvement. Audience Preferences: By analyzing audience data, AI can help speakers understand preferences and tailor their content and delivery accordingly.