Should You Use AI to Write Your Live Presentations

Spoiler: yes, but with a twist

Are you using AI tools like Chat GPT to write your presentation scripts?

As someone who is a big fan of the potential of AI, I have to admit that there are certain areas where I think these tools are not yet ready to be used.

One such area is in writing scripts for live presentations. Now, I know what you might be thinking - "but AI is so convenient and efficient, why wouldn't I use it?" And I completely understand that sentiment. AI can be a precious tool in many aspects of our work. But when it comes to writing scripts for presentations, it's essential to be aware of its limitations.

In this post, I'll share my thoughts on why I don't recommend using AI to write your presentation scripts and offer some alternative strategies for crafting your own scripts.

AI has a written style that is too wordy for natural and engaging oral delivery

One of the reasons I don't recommend using AI to write your presentation scripts is that the text generated by these tools can be repetitive and too complex to be easily understood just by listening.

Grammar checkers like Grammarly of Quillbot commonly flag chat GPT's productions as too wordy, at least for now.

It's also difficult to come up with the right prompts to guide the AI in creating a script that aligns with your personal style and tone of voice. As a result, you might end up with a script that feels forced or inauthentic, making it hard to connect with the audience.

It's easier to memorize and deliver your own words

Another reason to avoid relying on AI to write your scripts is that it can be challenging to deliver someone else's words, even if they were generated by AI, in a natural way. As an actor, I can tell you firsthand that it takes years of training and practice to be able to do this effectively.

Being genuine and authentic is much easier when you're using your own words and speaking style.

However, when you're using someone else's words, even if they were generated by AI, you have to spend extra time and effort getting accustomed to the AI's ways of writing. This can be a barrier to effective delivery and can take away from the impact of your message.

So… How to use AI to your advantage in crafting your presentation

So if AI isn't ready to write your entire presentation script, what can it be used for?

I recommend using it to generate a basic structure or first draft and then filling in the details and refining the language with your own words.

This way, you can ensure that your message comes across clearly and authentically to your audience. AI can be really helpful in providing you with a starting point or a roadmap for your presentation.

You can use it to brainstorm ideas, organize your thoughts, and come up with a basic structure and draft of the script. From there, you can take over and add your own personal touch with your own words and speaking style. This way, you get the best of both worlds - the efficiency and organization of AI combined with the authenticity and impact of your own words.

In conclusion, while AI tools like Chat GPT have the potential to revolutionize the way we work and communicate, I would refrain from going all the way and have them write natural, engaging scripts for live presentations. Instead, I'll use them to help with structure and the first draft but still rewrite it to make it entirely my own.