Keynote Speakers
Machines can already do 33% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 62%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Keynote Speakers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 33% of this job's tasks.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2031, and 62% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Contact with people: it scores 68% for contact with people.
- Also called: Keynote Speaker, Professional Speaker, Conference Speaker, Corporate Speaker.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deliver live keynotes to conference, corporate and public audiences | 24% | 28% to 58% | |
| Research and write talks tailored to each client, audience and industry | 16% | 43% to 75% | |
| Design slides, stories, video and demonstrations for talks | 10% | 50% to 78% | |
| Run workshops, panels and question and answer sessions | 10% | 22% to 50% | |
| Build a profile through media, social channels, books and articles | 10% | 32% to 65% | |
| Brief clients and event organisers before each event | 8% | 22% to 48% | |
| Agree bookings and fees with speaker bureaus, agents and clients | 7% | 22% to 48% | |
| Travel to venues and rehearse on site with production teams | 7% | 20% to 50% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills keynote speakers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Motivational Speakers49% of tasks by 2035
- Event Hosts and Emcees56% of tasks by 2035
- Magicians and Illusionists54% of tasks by 2035
- Stand-up Comedians54% of tasks by 2035
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Keynote Speakers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2031. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of keynote speakers?
Machines can do 33% of the tasks of keynote speakers today and 62% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 311-P952 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Keynote Speakers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/keynote-speakers/