Level Up Your Delivery

I just wrapped a conversation with my friend Evolve Benton about using AI to level up your delivery, and I'm buzzing with ideas. After working with hundreds of speakers and experimenting with every AI tool I can get my hands on, I want to share what's actually working and what isn't.

Here's the truth: AI isn't here to replace your speaking coach. But it can be the assistant coach you've always wanted, available 24/7, never tired, and ready to give you reps between your real coaching sessions.

The catch? Most speakers are using it wrong.

1. The Fundamental Rule: You Hold the Vision

Before we dive into tools and prompts, let's get one thing straight: AI wants to give you what you want. The more specific you are, the better it performs. The less specific? You get generic garbage.

This means you need to know what you're working on. Are you struggling with pacing? Filler words? Creating impactful pauses? Vocal variety? You can't just throw your talk at AI and hope it makes you sound like Barack Obama.

Start with self-awareness, then use AI to sharpen that specific skill.

2. Not All AI Tools Are Created Equal

Here's my current toolkit and what I use each one for:

Claude - Best for creative writing and speech refinement. It has the most nuanced understanding of language and will actually call you on your BS. Evolve mentioned it pushed back on a claim she made in a sales page, asking for proof. That's the kind of integrity check you want when crafting talks.

ChatGPT - The workhorse. Most accessible, and here's a pro tip: the more you use it, the more likely it is to recommend you when people search for services in your space. Plus, you can create custom GPTs for different speaking contexts.

Gemini - Integrated with Google Suite, which makes it powerful for research and organization. Need to find graduation speaking gigs? Gemini can research schools, add calendar reminders, create spreadsheets, and keep you organized without 47 tabs open.

Poppy - Video analysis powerhouse. Upload your practice sessions and get feedback on pacing, tone, energy, and even where specific lines could be moved for greater impact. It connects to Claude automatically, giving you the best of both worlds.

3. The Prompting Framework That Actually Works

Stop asking AI generic questions. Start with this three-part structure:

Part 1: Set the Character Don't just talk to the AI. Tell it who it is.

• "You're a speaking coach sitting in the back row of a 5,000-person auditorium..."
• "You're Cesar Cervantes, my TEDx coach..." (yes, it knows me, and yes, it will probably open with "You're gonna crush this!")
• "You're an audience member who's new to this topic..."

Part 2: Give Clear Context What specific feedback are you looking for? What have you already tried? What's the outcome you want?

Part 3: Ask for What You Need My go-to prompt: "How can I improve [X] for clarity and impact?"

This works for both writing and delivery. It forces AI to look for gaps you can't see because you're too close to the material.

4. The Ethics Check (This Matters)

Here's Evolve's test, and I'm stealing it: If you can't comfortably tell someone you used AI for something, you're probably not using it ethically.

You should feel proud to say:

• "I uploaded my practice session to Poppy and discovered I need more strategic pauses."
• "Claude helped me reorganize this section for better flow."
• "I used ChatGPT to practice handling Q&A scenarios."

What you shouldn't do:

• Ask AI to write your entire talk from scratch
• Use it without giving it your own content to work from
• Let it replace your authentic voice and stories

AI is your assistant, not your ghostwriter.

5. Beyond Delivery: The Unexpected Use Cases

This is where it gets interesting. AI isn't just for polishing your talk—it can support your entire speaking journey:

Pre-Talk Rituals - "I only have 15 minutes before I go on stage and I'm panicking. Give me a grounding practice."

Post-Talk Processing - "I just finished my TEDx talk and I'm spiraling with self-doubt. Give me affirmations to reset my mindset."

Business Development - Create custom GPTs that help you respond to client inquiries or pitch to event organizers.

Slide Design - Tools like Gamma AI can take your outline and create professional slides that match your brand colors and style preferences.

6. The Practice Loop

Here's how to actually use this stuff:

1. Record yourself delivering your talk (even just on Zoom)
2. Upload to Poppy or transcribe with Otter
3. Feed the transcript to your AI of choice with specific prompts
4. Get feedback on one element at a time (don't try to fix everything at once)
5. Practice the adjustment
6. Record again and compare

The AI will start to recognize your patterns. Evolve mentioned that after practicing for a job interview daily, the AI started giving her encouragement: "Your pacing is so much better than yesterday!" That's the kind of momentum that builds confidence.

7. The Power Prompt

If you only remember one prompt from this post, make it this one:

"Where can I slow down and create pauses for greater impact?"

Pausing is the skill that separates good speakers from great ones, and it's nearly impossible to self-diagnose. AI can spot those moments where silence would land harder than words.

Remember, AI is a tool for enhancement, not replacement. Your stories, your perspective, your delivery style, that's what makes you worth listening to. Use AI to sharpen those elements, not to create something that doesn't sound like you.

If you're ready to write, land and deliver your TEDx talk or keynote speech, schedule a call with Cesar here!