You’ve landed the opportunity. A room full of potential investors, decision-makers, or future clients is waiting to hear what you’ve got. Your product is solid, your idea is clear—but that presentation? It’s still a bunch of sticky notes and nervous energy.
Enter AI.
No, not to write the whole thing for you (please, don’t do that). But to be your behind-the-scenes support—your researcher, brainstorming buddy, and sometimes even a coach. Done well, AI can help you craft a presentation or pitch that’s structured, engaging, and completely aligned with your voice.
But there’s a fine line between using AI to help and sounding like it wrote the whole thing. And if you’ve ever sat through a presentation full of buzzwords and zero personality, you know exactly what I mean.
Let’s walk through how to use AI smartly—what it can do for your pitch prep, and what to avoid so you still sound like… well, you.
Where AI Shines in Presentation Prep
- Getting Unstuck with Structure
One of the hardest parts of preparing a pitch is getting started. AI tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, or Notion AI can quickly help you build a framework—introduce the problem, outline your solution, highlight results, and wrap up with a confident call to action.
Try prompting with:
“I need a 5-minute pitch for a new app that helps tradies manage job quotes. It’s for a group of regional business owners who are time-poor but hands-on.”
You’ll get a rough draft in seconds. Then refine it into something that fits your personality and purpose.
- Building Visuals Without the Guesswork
Design doesn’t come naturally to everyone. If you’re not a PowerPoint pro, tools like Tome, Gamma, or Beautiful.ai can whip up a professional-looking slide deck from your talking points.
Don’t stop there—customise your visuals. Use your brand colours, logos, or real images instead of AI-suggested stock shots. Keep slides simple and only support your story, not distract from it.
- Rehearsal Tools That Help You Improve
Once you’ve written your content, delivery is everything. Apps like Yoodli or Orai let you practise your presentation aloud and give real-time feedback on your pace, tone, filler words, and eye contact (if using video).
Think of it as a virtual coach—one that won’t get tired of listening to you rehearse 15 times before the big day.
The Subtle Signs of AI—and How to Avoid Them
AI can do a lot, but it still has tells. Here’s what to steer clear of if you don’t want your pitch to scream “machine-made.”
❌ Overusing Jargon or Fluff
If your script is full of phrases like “leveraging synergies to disrupt the status quo,” take a step back. Speak like a human, not a pitch deck. Plain, direct language is more memorable than bloated buzzwords.
❌ Lack of Personality or Story
AI can help outline a presentation, but it doesn’t know your story. It doesn’t know the moment that sparked your idea, the customer you went above and beyond for, or the challenge you had to work through. That’s the gold your audience connects with. Keep it in.
❌ Letting AI Own the Voice
Your voice—how you speak, your rhythm, humour, even your quirks—are what make you memorable. Always read your AI-drafted text out loud. If it doesn’t sound like something you’d say in conversation, rewrite it.
Bringing It All Together
Let’s be clear—AI isn’t a shortcut to avoid putting in the work. It’s a tool to make the process smoother, especially when you’re under pressure or unsure where to begin.
Here’s a quick example of how to make it work for you:
- Outline with AI – Ask for a structure based on your audience and time limit.
- Draft key sections – Use AI to draft your intro, key points, and conclusion.
- Edit for voice – Rewrite so it sounds like you.
- Add human touches – Insert your real-world examples, analogies, or jokes.
- Design support – Use AI-generated slides as a base, then customise.
- Practise and refine – Record yourself, watch it back, and tweak.
AI can give you a strong head start. It can help you find clarity, keep things concise, and reduce the overwhelm of staring at a blank page or slide. But don’t let it do all the talking.
People buy from people. They invest in ideas that are presented with confidence and authenticity. Use AI to support your natural voice—not replace it.
When done right, your audience won’t be thinking, “Was that written by ChatGPT?” They’ll be thinking, “That was brilliant.”