How to Use AI to Build Strong Presentations Without Losing the Human Touch

AI has quickly gone from feeling like a foreign concept to becoming an everyday tool for business communication. In 2024, McKinsey surveyed over 1,400 companies and found that 71% use generative AI, such as ChatGPT, to create content like slide decks and presentation outlines. And it's probably safe to say that number has increased in the past year.

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Considering how much time we spend on administrative tasks, it’s no wonder AI has taken off as a presentation aide. A UK government study found that civil servants using AI tools saved about 26 minutes a day on things like document drafting and meeting summaries. That adds up to roughly two weeks a year.

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While most of us would happily take that time back, relying 100% on AI comes with some risk. AI is magical when it comes to preparing, drafting, and editing presentations, but there are essential elements that still require a human touch.

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Here’s how to partner with AI to prepare more efficiently, and where your input is still essential.

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1. Planning What You’re Going to Say: AI Maps the Road, You Determine the Destination

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Where AI Can Help

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The first step in building a presentation is thinking about the result you want. Maybe you’re pitching a product but don’t know how to tailor it to your client’s needs. Maybe you have loads of data for stakeholders outside your function, and you need to have the numbers make sense. Or maybe you’ve got a brilliant idea and need leadership buy-in, but you’re worried your enthusiasm could distract them from the message.

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It’s easy to get stuck at the beginning. AI can help you get unstuck and turn your rough thoughts into something with structure and flow.

AI Tools That Help with Planning

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• Draft outlines quickly: Tools like ChatGPT or Claude can transform your rough ideas into a structured outline with just a few prompts.
   

• Suggest slide structure and flow: Platforms like Beautiful.ai recommend layouts and sequencing to help you move from idea to deck more smoothly.
   

• Flag content gaps: Tools like Decktopus can analyze your material and suggest where to clarify or expand.

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Where Human Input Is Needed

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While AI is great for helping you start, it can’t do the deeper thinking. Planning a strong presentation still depends on your judgment and perspective. Think of it like hiring a contractor. You wouldn’t just say, “Build me a house!” You’d need to share the size, layout, who’s living there, and what kind of space you need. Without your input, your presentation might end up looking like a generic McMansion: polished, but kind of “meh.”

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Here’s where your brain needs to take the wheel:

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• Clarify your key message: What’s the one thing you want your audience to remember? If you had just 15 seconds, what would you say? The primary effect in psychology suggests we are more likely to remember information when it’s presented first, rather than in the middle or end. Wouldn’t you rather have your audience remember the most important thing at the start? AI can’t decide that, but you can (and should!)

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• Tailor the message to your audience: Who are you speaking to, and what do they care about? AI doesn’t know your manager prefers hard data to anecdotes, or that your client wants ROI examples, not inspiration quotes. AI doesn't understand the nuances and needs of your audience - but you do. 

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• Add stories and emotional resonance: Personal stories help messages stick. Research from Harvard Business School professor Thomas Graeber shows that we remember information delivered through stories far longer than facts alone. AI doesn’t know which stories or examples will reinforce your key message.

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2. Building What You’re Going to Say: AI Builds the Structure, You Bring the Color

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Where AI Can Help

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Once your outline is in place, it’s time to bring the content to life. AI has a superpower for polishing words and visuals. From layouts to message streamlining, these tools can help your presentation look and sound more professional.

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AI Tools for Visually Appealing Presentations

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Design slides with appealing layouts and visuals

• PopAi: Creates presentations from outlines or by converting existing documents into slide decks.

• Gamma: Creates sleek, web-style decks with a modern feel. Great for digital-first or scrollable formats.
   

Edit wording for tone, clarity, and impact

• Grammarly: Improves tone and clarity so your message feels clean and polished.

• ChatGPT or Claude: Ideal for rewriting slides to sound more confident, inspiring, or audience-specific. You can prompt it with: “Make this sound more compelling for an executive audience.”
   

Suggest memorable phrases or analogies

• Jasper.ai: Designed for marketing and branding, this tool generates catchy taglines, analogies, and headlines.

• Canva: Offers a tool called "Magic Write" to help generate headlines or talking points.
  
   

Where Human Input Is Needed

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A visually polished presentation isn’t enough if it doesn’t feel like you or land with your audience. Here’s where your judgment, voice, and understanding of your audience come into play:

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• Craft language that reflects your voice and brand
  Does the text sound like something you’d say out loud? Does it align with your team’s voice or your company’s messaging style? AI might suggest impressive vocabulary, but that doesn’t mean it sounds natural. These are your words – make sure they sound like you.

• Choose visuals that reflect your audience’s values
  What matters to your audience? Do they appreciate bold, modern visuals or more classic ones? Does your company prioritize innovation, community, or inclusion? Make sure your imagery supports those values.

• Adjust for real-world context
  Even the most “perfect” presentation may need to shift. Maybe your client had a massive reorg, or your company just announced new initiatives. AI won’t know about these developments, but you do. It’s your job to keep your content current, relevant, and sensitive to the moment.

 

3. Evaluating How You’re Going to Say It: AI Notes Your Presence, Humans Unlock It

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Where AI Can Help

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You can build the most beautifully organized deck in the world, but if your delivery is lousy, it could all be for nothing. Presence is just as important as preparation. These tools can help you rehearse so you can show up with confidence and clarity.

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Provide light feedback on filler words, pacing, and clarity
 

• Yoodli: A public speaking coach that tracks filler words, pacing, tone, and variety. Great for practicing aloud.

• Orai: A mobile app that monitors energy and speech patterns, and gives real-time tips to improve delivery.

• Virtual Sapiens: An online tool designed to provide feedback on your virtual presence. It even lets you role play. 
   

Simulate audience questions for rehearsal and Q&A

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• Microsoft Copilot (PowerPoint or Word): Can analyze your slides and suggest questions your audience might ask. Try asking, “What questions might this slide bring up?”

• Google Gemini (Docs or Slides): Helps brainstorm objections or follow-up questions. You can prompt it with, “What would a skeptical person ask here?”
   

Where Human Input Is Crucial

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This may be the part of the process where human feedback matters most. AI can’t read the energy in the room or your physical presence. Self-awareness and input from people who know you (coaches, colleagues, or friends) can give you the kind of feedback that AI just can’t replicate.

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• Coaching on body language, tone, and energy
  Some tools can tell you how often you say “um,” but they can’t judge whether your tone feels warm, confident, or flat. Human communication is nuanced. If you speak with lots of enthusiasm, someone can tell you if it's landing as energetic or overwhelming. If you tend to speak softly, a coach can help you project in a grounded way.
  
  Your physical presence matters too. What works for someone who’s 6'4" might not work the same for someone who’s 5'0". And what works for in-person presentations, doesn’t always translate virtually (and vice versa). Fine tuning these elements requires human insight, so you can adjust your volume knob (both literally and figuratively) to show up in a way that feels authentic and effective.
   

• Managing nerves and mindset
  Even the most prepared of us get thrown off. Maybe your tech fails. Maybe your boss looks distracted. Maybe someone asks a curveball question. Everyone reacts to nerves differently. You might need grounding techniques, breathwork, or a centering ritual. Working with a coach or reflecting on past experiences can help you figure out what works best for you.
   

• Receiving real-time feedback to build connection and trust
  AI might help you prepare for tough questions, but it won’t help you read the room. A coach can guide you on how to build trust, make eye contact, engage your audience, and respond to real-time energy. These are the moments that turn a good presentation into a memorable one.

 

AI Is a Partner, Not a Crutch

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AI is a powerful support system for every stage of a presentation. But the heart of it? That still comes from you. Of course you want your presentation to be clear, compelling, and well-designed. But you also want it to be human.

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We all bring nuance, style, and personality to our delivery. That’s what makes us memorable. If you use AI without adding your own voice, you might end up with a clean and polished presentation—like a modern farmhouse with brand-new shiplap. It looks nice, but it blends in with every other house on the block.

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Let AI help you prepare. But trust yourself to lead the way.