Artificial intelligence is changing the workplace faster than many organizations can keep up. And while the opportunities are exciting, the uncertainty is real.
Will AI replace jobs? How will it change the way we work? What skills will matter most? And how can businesses prepare their people for a future that’s still taking shape?
For leaders planning their 2027 meetings and conferences, these questions are becoming increasingly important. But here’s the thing: The biggest challenge with AI isn’t always the technology. It’s how people respond to it. That’s why organizations are looking for AI keynote speakers who can do more than explain emerging technology. They need speakers who can help employees move beyond uncertainty, embrace new possibilities, and approach change with greater confidence.
Two speakers bringing particularly valuable perspectives to this conversation are Steve Lerch and Sam Rad.
Steve Lerch: Turning Curiosity Into Competitive Advantage
What if the biggest obstacle to innovation isn’t a lack of ideas, but a workplace culture that prevents people from sharing them?
Former Google executive and innovation speaker Steve Lerch helps organizations build cultures where curiosity, creativity, and experimentation thrive. As AI continues to transform industries, Steve challenges audiences to rethink how they approach innovation. Rather than focusing solely on the latest technology, he emphasizes the human behaviors that allow organizations to adapt, generate ideas, and discover new opportunities. His engaging, high-energy presentations help leaders and teams understand that innovation isn’t reserved for a select few. It’s something everyone can contribute to when the right culture exists.
Why Steve for your 2027 event?
Steve is an excellent fit for organizations that want employees to feel empowered rather than intimidated by change. His message helps teams replace hesitation with curiosity and recognize their own role in shaping what’s next.
Key topics: Innovation, creativity, organizational culture, future of work, leadership, and adaptability.
Sam Rad: Understanding the Pattern Behind Change
Every major technological shift brings a familiar combination of excitement, disruption, and uncertainty.
According to anthropologist and futurist Sam Rad, that’s because change follows a pattern. In her signature keynote, Change Has a Pattern, Sam draws on thousands of years of human history to explain why disruptive technologies create resistance, why new tools don’t always deliver immediate results, and what organizations can do to move forward. Her perspective is especially relevant to AI. Rather than treating artificial intelligence as an unprecedented challenge, Sam helps audiences recognize the human behaviors and predictable cycles that accompany major technological transformations. The result is a message that makes the future feel less intimidating and gives people a clearer framework for navigating it.
Why Sam for your 2027 event?
Sam is a strong choice for organizations navigating transformation, introducing new technologies, or helping employees understand why change feels uncomfortable—and how to move through it.
Key topics: Artificial intelligence, technological disruption, change, future readiness, adaptability, and human behavior.
Two Perspectives. One Important Conversation.
Steve Lerch and Sam Rad approach the AI conversation from different angles, but their messages share an important theme:
Technology creates opportunities. People determine what happens next.
Sam helps audiences understand why change happens, how people respond to disruption, and what it takes to navigate the transition. Steve helps organizations create the mindset and culture needed to turn those changes into opportunities for innovation and growth. For event planners, the distinction comes down to what your audience needs most. If your organization is struggling with uncertainty, resistance, or the pace of technological change, Sam’s perspective can help people understand the bigger picture. If your team is ready to explore new possibilities but needs a stronger culture of creativity and innovation, Steve can help inspire that shift. Both offer something increasingly valuable as organizations prepare for 2027: a human-centered approach to navigating an AI-driven future.
Help Your Audience Move From AI Anxiety to AI Advantage
AI isn’t slowing down, and neither are the conversations surrounding it. But the goal of an effective AI keynote shouldn’t be to overwhelm audiences with everything technology might do next. It should be to help them understand where they fit into that future—and what they can do today to prepare for it. Whether your organization needs to build confidence around change or create a culture that embraces innovation, Executive Speakers Bureau can help you find the right voice for your audience.
Ready to turn AI anxiety into AI advantage? Connect with Executive Speakers Bureau to explore Steve Lerch, Sam Rad, and other keynote speakers helping organizations navigate what’s next.
