As AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot become more embedded in everyday work, meeting planners may wonder whether they can also help when researching keynote speakers.
AI can be a helpful starting point for getting familiar with the speaker market and gathering publicly available information. Choosing the right speaker, however, often comes down to context: seeing them at real events, hearing candid client feedback, and knowing what they’re like to work with.
A speakers bureau brings that human perspective to the search, helping planners look beyond what is easiest to find online and make a more informed choice for their audience and event.
That perspective can change how a shortlist looks. Two speakers may appear equally strong in an AI search, while firsthand experience can reveal important differences in how well each one may fit the event.
What Can AI Tell You About a Keynote Speaker?
For an initial search, AI can help you get familiar with the options and pull together publicly available information, including:
- Speakers who cover a certain topic
- Professional backgrounds and areas of expertise
- Books, interviews, and other published work
- Public speaking videos and appearances
- Reviews and testimonials available online
- Other speakers working in a similar category
- How different speakers describe their topics and areas of focus
What AI May Miss When Comparing Speakers
Some speakers have years of published content for AI to pull from, while others have a much smaller presence online. A speaker may be doing outstanding work at corporate events without generating the same volume of interviews, videos, or other public content.
As a result, two speakers can look very different in an AI search even when both are strong options for your event.
A speakers bureau also has access to information that isn’t online, including:
- Recent conversations with clients
- Feedback from events that took place in the last few weeks or months
- Seeing a speaker present recently
- Knowing how they work with clients throughout the planning process
- Hearing how they handled a change or unexpected situation onsite
Why Work With a Speakers Bureau to Find a Keynote Speaker?
That perspective can be especially important when a planner is deciding between several strong options.
The Leading Authorities team recently worked with a first-time client planning a leadership retreat. They wanted a highly inspirational keynote and, after receiving our initial recommendations, used an AI tool to compare the options. The results led them to question whether some of the suggested speakers would be inspiring enough.
Based on the team’s experience with the speakers and what the client wanted attendees to take away, they encouraged them to keep considering one of the original recommendations.
The client ultimately booked that speaker, who spent time preparing with the team, accommodated last-minute changes onsite, and connected with attendees before and after the presentation. That evening, the client called to share how strongly the keynote had resonated and said attendees were calling it one of the best they had experienced.
The AI tool could compare what was publicly available, while our team knew how the speakers were performing and which one best matched what the client wanted from the keynote.
Ready to Find the Right Speaker?
For more than 35 years, Leading Authorities has helped organizations find and book speakers for meetings, conferences, and corporate events. Whether you already have a shortlist or are just beginning your search, our team can help you compare the options and identify the speaker who best fits the event.
To learn more or find a speaker for your next event:
- Call us at 855-827-9635
- Email [email protected]
- Start a live chat
- Fill out our contact form
