Language, Communication, And AI: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Public Speaking Skills

Abstract

In the era of accelerated technological advancement, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a significant enabler of transformation in human communication, with notable applications in public speaking training. Traditionally dependent on human mentorship, repetitive practice, and live audience engagement, oratory skill development now benefits from AI-driven systems capable of addressing persistent challenges such as speech anxiety, suboptimal delivery, and limited feedback. This paper examines the integration of AI with communication theory to enhance public speaking competence. AI-enabled platforms employing computational speech analysis are investigated for their ability to evaluate prosodic features, including tone, tempo, and clarity, and to deliver both real-time and post-performance feedback. The study further explores AI applications in linguistic optimization, audience engagement modelling, and simulated performance environments aimed at reducing speaker apprehension. Examples include virtual coaching systems, speech rehearsal simulators, and natural language processing (NLP) frameworks that assess communicative clarity, rhetorical effectiveness, non-verbal delivery, and persuasive potential. While these innovations demonstrate strong potential for democratizing access to high-quality training, limitations persist in AI’s capacity to interpret emotional nuance, cultural variation, and context-sensitive rhetoric. Ethical issues, including data privacy, algorithmic bias, and overdependence on automated pedagogical tools, are also addressed. The findings suggest that effective human–AI synergy can make public speaking instruction more equitable, scalable, and accessible, combining computational precision with the creative dimensions of rhetorical expression.