How to Choose the Right AI Speaker for Your Event
The Criteria That Actually Matter When Choosing an AI Speaker
Not all AI speakers are equal. Many keynote speakers on the subject have never built an AI product or deployed AI at scale inside an organization. Choosing the wrong speaker for your event means your audience leaves with theory and no path forward.
The right AI speaker for your event combines three things: genuine practitioner experience, the ability to connect AI to your specific audience's challenges, and a presentation style that keeps a mixed-level audience engaged throughout.
Five Questions to Ask Before You Book
1. Have they deployed AI in a real business context? Ask for specific examples, not case studies from textbooks. Karl Lillrud has worked with AI and automation systems since 2006 and currently builds PodManager AI, an AI-driven production platform.
2. Can they tailor to your industry and audience? A generic AI keynote fails a retail audience and a financial services audience equally. The best speakers research your agenda, your attendees, and your strategic context before stepping on stage.
3. Do they have verifiable credentials? Global Gurus Top 30, Thinkers360 Top 10 AI Thought Leader, and two TEDx talks are independently verifiable. Ask for the ranking page links.
4. What do past organizers say? Look for testimonials from event directors and audience leads, not just attendees. Karl has received the highest speaker ratings at multiple events.
5. What do attendees leave with? The measure of a great AI keynote is whether the audience returns to work with a clear next action. Karl's sessions are built around frameworks and checklists, not inspiration alone.
Why Karl Lillrud is the Right Choice
Karl Lillrud is a global keynote speaker, two-time TEDx speaker, and author of 9 books including AI Your Second Brain: Evolve or Go Extinct. He is recognized on Global Gurus Top 30 Motivational Speakers (rank 16 in 2026) and Thinkers360 Top 10 AI Thought Leader. He has worked with Volvo, Spotify, Klarna, and AstraZeneca, and has spoken during World Economic Forum week in Davos.
