Finding the perfect AI Keynote Speaker for your industry event can be challenging. Is your audience wondering where AI is heading or how to better implement AI in their company, or maybe they just want a humorous take on AI? Perhaps your audience needs all three or wants someone who has worked at an AI company.

At BigSpeak Speakers Bureau, we work with some of the top AI Keynote Speakers in the industry. These keynote speakers have worked with famous companies like OpenAI, Google, Apple, and more, helping to shape the AI revolution and our understanding of it.

If you’re looking for a great AI speaker for your event, here are five ways to narrow it down.

1) Relevant Industry Expertise

For insights into AI, you might look for experts who have worked in or are still working in the field. For example, a respected academic, a successful entrepreneur, or a recognized leader in the AI community with a background and affiliations that add to their credibility would be a great fit. 

If that’s the case, you might want the insights from someone who worked at OpenAI, like Zack Kass, a global AI advisor and the former Head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI. Today, he advises Fortune 1000 companies and governments on how to lead in an AI-driven world.

Or, maybe you want to hear from the creator of one of the first successful virtual assistants, Adam Cheyer. Adam was a pioneer in AI and intelligent user interfaces, a co-founder of Siri (sold to Apple to build the Siri assistant) and of Viv Labs (sold to Samsung to build their new voice assistant).

2) Expertise and Deep AI Knowledge

If your desire is more technical, you might be looking for a speaker with a profound understanding of AI’s core concepts, from machine learning to neural networks and large language models. Someone who can explain the complex topics in an accessible way.

For deep knowledge, consider Cassie Kozyrkov, a renowned leader in artificial intelligence and the founder of Decision Intelligence. As Google’s first Chief Decision Scientist, she spearheaded the tech giant’s AI-first transformation, training over 20,000 Googlers and impacting more than 500 projects.

Or, Michelle K. Lee, an Artificial Intelligence strategist, former executive at Google and Amazon, and former professor at Stanford University, where she taught on disruptive technologies and their implications on our society and policies.

3) Communication and Presentation Skills

For a better audience experience, you might be looking for a keynote speaker who is an excellent communicator, who can tell an engaging story, and who can make the complex ideas simple.

If so, then consider Marc Porat, a visionary futurist and co-founder of General Magic, which developed the first smartphone and intelligent agents, and creator of the concept of “The Information Economy.” Marc makes the big ideas easy to understand.

Or consider Kevin Surace. As Inc. Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year, CNBC’s Innovator of the Decade, and a TED mainstage speaker, Kevin knows how to weave a story to delight an audience.

4) Practicality and Actionability

One thing you’re sure to want in a speaker is practical insights for your audiences. The speaker should be able to provide actionable advice on how attendees can leverage AI in their own work or organization.

If you’re looking for solid takeaways, consider Sol Rashidi, the world’s 1st Chief AI Officer for enterprise (appointed in 2016). Sol is a pioneer and innovator with 10 patents and the best-selling author of ‘Your AI Survival Guide’ (‘Top 50 AI’ books). Voted FORBES “AI Maverick & Visionary of the 21st Century,” she is a 3x TEDx speaker.

Or consider Kay Firth-Butterfield. She is the former Head of Artificial Intelligence and a member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum and is one of the foremost experts in the world on the governance of AI.

5) Entertainment 

Finally, you might want your audiences to be entertained as well as informed. A speaker who can delight your audience at the same time as opening their mind to something new.

If so, you might want to consider Janelle Shane, who looks at the strange side of artificial intelligence. She has entertained audiences on the main TED stage and was named one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business and an Adweek Young Influential.

If you’re still having trouble deciding on your perfect AI Keynote Speaker for your industry event, contact BigSpeak Speakers Bureau to help you find the right speaker for your needs.

For more on AI Keynote Speakers, read

Zack Kass on the Major Obstacles Facing AI Today

Before AI Was a Buzzword, Adam Cheyer Built Siri—the Beginning of the AI Revolution

Five Ideas About AI and Innovation From Top Innovation Keynote Speakers