Proof of practice
Does the speaker build and run AI day to day, or talk about it second-hand? Ask what they have shipped to production themselves. A live demo beats a list of tools.
The market for artificial intelligence talks has exploded, and the people who take the stage are very different from one another. Here are the criteria that matter and the main families of speakers, so you can choose knowingly rather than on reputation alone.
Discover my AI talksBeyond stage presence, these criteria separate a talk that inspires in the moment from one that actually changes how your teams work.
Does the speaker build and run AI day to day, or talk about it second-hand? Ask what they have shipped to production themselves. A live demo beats a list of tools.
Generative AI changes every month. Check the date of the cases presented: last year's example may already be outdated. Ask what the speaker has tested in the past few weeks.
A leadership team, a room of engineers and operational teams do not expect the same thing. Is the content and level tuned to your audience, or delivered identically everywhere?
Does the speaker then sell a service, a licence or a specific tool? It is not disqualifying, but it helps to know whether the talk also serves as a commercial entry point.
A good talk leaves a trace: a summary deck, resources, availability to go further. Ask what your teams keep once the lights are back on.
AI touches your data and, soon, the AI Act. A speaker who can address hosting, GDPR and European models prepares you for the questions your leadership team will ask.
Each profile has its value depending on your goal. Here is how to tell them apart and what to check before booking, with no jargon and no ranking.
An entrepreneur who develops and operates their own AI products, and speaks from that hands-on experience.
An organisation that trains and supports companies, with salaried speakers and a method honed at scale.
Someone with a recognised entrepreneurial track record who shares the vision and strategic decisions drawn from their experience.
Someone from media or marketing, very comfortable making AI accessible to a broad audience.
This guide compares families of profiles rather than named people. It reflects observation of the French-speaking AI speaking market at the date of publication and implies no affiliation. Each family can be the right fit depending on your goal; the best choice depends on your audience, your context and what you want to remain after the talk.
There is no absolute best. To inspire a leadership team, a founder's story works well; to equip teams, a speaker who builds and runs AI brings real demos; to raise mass awareness, a populariser is effective. Start from your goal rather than reputation.
The budget depends on the format, duration, travel and level of customisation. Most speakers provide a quote after a call about your context. Ask what the fee includes: preparation, materials, follow-up after the talk.
It is an asset when you want recent examples and demos rather than an overview. Someone who runs their own AI products can talk about what breaks, what it costs and what works in production, beyond the promises.
Ask for recent stage videos, organiser references, the date of the cases presented and, if the topic is technical, a product genuinely in service. A credible speaker shares these without difficulty.
A talk raises awareness and gives a vision in a short time, training builds skills over time, and a workshop gets people hands-on. Many companies start with a talk to build buy-in, then follow up with training.
I develop and run sovereign AI products day to day, and I have been on stage for twelve years. Tell me your audience and your goal, and I'll propose the right talk.
Discover my AI talks