Practical AI insights, industry trends, and actionable strategies for business leaders who want to stay ahead. Written by Jon Lakefish, updated regularly.
Let's get the awkward part out of the way: I am an AI keynote speaker, this list includes me, and it lives on my website. Most "best speakers" lists you'll find are written by bureaus promoting their own roster or by speakers who rank themselves first and skip the competition. I'm doing it differently. The people below are real alternatives planners compare me against, I've described them fairly, and where I include myself, every claim links to published data you can check. Use this as a working shortlist, not a scoreboard.
What should an AI keynote speaker cost in 2026? For many established AI speakers, a practical planning range is $8,000 to $30,000. Treat that as market guidance, not a quote. The actual number depends on the speaker, the format, the preparation involved, travel, and the details of your event. The good news is that a clear conversation early in the process can make the budget much easier to manage.
A practical review of ChatGPT and Claude business-plan security, data training, governance controls, and the risks of unmanaged personal accounts.
Fable 5.1 lowers the cost of repeated work, improves complex business analysis, and supports Zero Data Retention for regulated workloads.
Hedra's official connector brings video and image generation into Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex conversations.
Three French-language leadership workshops showed what happens when every slide, handout, exercise, and prompt is built for the room.
Six confirmed engagements across five cities came from organizers who rebooked or leaders who brought the work to another organization.
AI adoption stalls when employees have the tools but cannot connect them to daily work. In the August 2026 Lakefish Group update, 57% of U.S. employees had tried AI, but only 11% used it in more than half of their work.
The most effective AI workshops remove the guesswork by providing pre-set, role-specific prompts. When attendees see AI solve their actual daily problems, they immediately understand its value.
Claude and ChatGPT recently released major platform updates, introducing model tiers like Opus 5, Sonnet 5, and GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna. These updates allow teams to match the model to the specific task, improving efficiency and capabilities.
We are taking on new clients and returning to familiar ground this summer. With our team growing, we have expanded capacity for fall engagements.
Every conference organizer has been burned at least once. A speaker who looked great on paper, delivered a polished presentation, and left the room inspired for about 48 hours. Then nothing changed. This guide is for event planners and conference organizers who are done with inspiration and want to know how to find an AI speaker who delivers something their attendees can actually use.
The AI Hot Seat is one of the most talked-about conference formats in North America right now. Here is exactly what it is, how it works, what companies experience when they take the seat, and why conference organizers keep booking it.
We debuted the AI Hot Seat at BEMA in Hawaii: 300 leaders, real business problems solved live on stage, and a 9.83 overall rating. Plus: Fable 5 is back, Anthropic opened a window into Claude's mind, GPT-5.6 is almost here, and the five tools we keep reaching for right now.
When AI stops being theoretical, everything changes. See how six different industries solved real problems, built functional tools, and created finished content live in the room.
Anthropic launched Fable 5, its most capable model, on June 10, 2026. Two days later, the US government ordered it offline for all users globally.
ChatGPT's image generation now renders text accurately, and Claude just launched a design tool that changes what non-designers can do. Here is a look at ChatGPT Images 2.0 and Claude Design, and how they can be used for business.
Six groups. Six industries. A Korean-language awareness video built live. A financial puzzle solved in four minutes. Websites, dashboards, and real business challenges worked through in the room. Plus: the US government shut down Anthropic's most powerful model, ChatGPT image generation hit a new level, and Claude launched a design tool that changes what non-designers can do.
Not one person in the room was on a phone or laptop. A banker told the event team it was the most useful session he had ever attended at a conference. Here is what happened when we brought live AI demos to Finovate Spring 2026.
Three very different audiences. Three very different industries. And in every single room, something that stopped people in their tracks. Plus: OpenAI and Anthropic both had massive weeks, Manus cracked the top five, and we are finally ready to talk about something we have been building behind the scenes.
We rebuilt the Lakefish Group website and this newsletter using AI in under 48 hours. Claude just launched something big. The right AI tool depends on the person, not the company. And your team is already using AI. The only question is whether it is safe.
April brought important advances in artificial intelligence. New safety frameworks and creative applications deserve immediate attention from business leaders.
NVIDIA's GTC 2025 conference unveiled a wave of AI capabilities that will reshape how brands operate, create, and compete. For business leaders, understanding these advancements is crucial to staying competitive and relevant in a rapidly evolving market.
The artificial intelligence landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by unprecedented investments and the emergence of increasingly sophisticated tools. This shift is redefining automation and presenting both immense opportunities and significant challenges for businesses across all sectors.
The conversation around Artificial Intelligence often gets lost in future predictions and abstract concepts. But for today's business leaders, the real power of AI lies in its immediate, practical applications. This post cuts through the noise to show how AI is delivering tangible results right now, shaping marketing, building trust, and supercharging productivity across industries.
Artificial intelligence continues its rapid advancement, presenting both significant opportunities and critical challenges for businesses and creative professionals. Staying informed about these innovations is not merely an advantage; it is essential for strategic growth and competitive relevance in today's dynamic market.
Technology and business are changing quickly as AI advances. Every leader needs to understand the practical implications of these changes.
AI's relentless progress continues to reshape industries. September 2024 delivered significant advancements in text-to-image generation, AI video creation, and search engine capabilities, offering new strategic opportunities for businesses.
August 2024 brought significant advancements in artificial intelligence, reshaping how businesses approach innovation and efficiency. These shifts are not just technological marvels; they represent practical opportunities for leaders ready to adapt.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how businesses connect with their customers, moving beyond theoretical discussions to deliver tangible results. Leaders need to understand these shifts to maintain a competitive edge and build genuine brand loyalty.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the marketing landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities for businesses to connect with their audiences. Understanding these shifts is crucial for leaders aiming to stay competitive and drive meaningful growth in 2024.
Jon curates the most important AI developments for business leaders every month. No fluff, no hype. Just what matters.
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