You’ve been asked to say something.
At a wedding. A retirement. A funeral. A milestone birthday. A leaving do.
You said yes — because you care about the person. Now the date is getting closer and the blank page is getting louder.
Most people aren’t afraid of speaking. They’re afraid of getting it wrong — saying something that doesn’t land, or not doing justice to someone who deserves better.
This is where AI helps.
What this helps with
Use this when:
- you don’t know where to start
- you have ideas but can’t shape them
- you want the right tone
- you’re unsure about length or structure
- you want to feel more confident before you stand up
The simple rule
A good speech isn’t about impressive words. It’s about a specific person, a specific moment, and something true.
AI helps you find that — and shape it into something you can deliver.
Try this
Open Claude, ChatGPT, or any AI tool and paste this:
“I need to write a [type of speech — wedding toast, retirement speech, eulogy, birthday tribute]. It’s for [who they are and your relationship to them]. Here are some things that matter: [memories, qualities, specific details]. The tone I’m going for is [warm / funny / heartfelt / a mix]. It should be about [length]. Can you write a first draft I can work from?”
What you’ll actually get back
Someone was asked to give a toast at their best friend’s wedding. They’d known her for twenty years. They had a hundred memories and no idea how to turn them into three minutes that wouldn’t fall apart halfway through.
They described the friendship to AI — how they met, a trip they’d taken together, what they admired most, and that they wanted it to be warm with a moment of humour.
What came back was a draft that opened with the trip, moved into what the friendship meant, and ended with a simple, sincere toast.
They changed about a third of it — adjusted phrases to sound more like themselves, swapped one story, and shortened the ending.
They delivered it without notes. The bride cried. In a good way.
If you’re stuck on what to include
“I need to give a speech about [person]. Here’s what I know about them: [describe freely — personality, stories, what makes them them]. Can you help me identify the two or three strongest themes to build around?”
Getting the tone right
“Here’s my draft: [paste it]. Can you make it sound more [natural / funny / heartfelt / concise] while still sounding like me?”
Practising and timing it
“Here’s my speech: [paste it]. How long will this take to deliver at a natural pace? And is there anything that might be awkward to say out loud?”
One important thing
AI gives you a starting point. The final version should sound like you. Change what doesn’t fit. Add what only you would know.
Start with the person
Before you open AI, write down one memory, one quality, and one thing you want them to know.
That’s your speech. AI helps you shape it.
What to read next
How to Use AI When You Don’t Know What to Say
How to Use AI to Improve Your Writing
How to Use AI to Plan an Event
Or visit the Decision Hub