Imagine you are a member of your local Toastmasters club. Just before the meeting starts, the Toastmaster of the evening calls on you to present a five to seven minutes speech. Caught without a prepared speech in your pocket and your nerves too frayed to wing it, is there another option to avoid having to flee the meeting? Yes! Immediately, you turn to ChatGPT!
While I have not personally encountered this scenario, sometimes I’ve needed to craft a speech at the last minute. As a librarian, I know how to use the tools that can help prepare a speech. But for the average person whose research skills are limited to rudimentary Googling, is AI the salvation they seek?
For an upcoming Toastmasters meeting, I challenged a member of my club to give me a topic to research that I was unfamiliar with to test my skills. That member gave me to the topic: AI – Friend, Foe, or Tool?
As I was doing my preparation, it occurred to me that since I am writing a speech on AI it would be appropriate to see what an AI could write on the topic itself.
Below is the full transcript of my short interaction with ChatGPT, the best known of the AI tools. For reference, I used a free ChatGPT account. The service has paid tiers that offer more benefits and options.
My thoughts on the speech it provided will follow the transcript. Enjoy!
User Prompt: Write a five to seven minutes speech on the topic “AI – Friend, Foe, or Tool?”
ChatGPT said:
Certainly! Here’s a speech designed for a five to seven-minute delivery, ideal for a Toastmasters meeting. It offers a balanced, engaging, and thought-provoking take on the topic:
Title: “AI – Friend, Foe, or Tool?”
[Opening – Hook]
Fellow Toastmasters and honored guests,
Imagine waking up one morning to find that your coffee was brewed, your inbox sorted, and your car already warmed up – all without lifting a finger. That’s not science fiction anymore. That’s artificial intelligence in action. But while some see AI as a trusted friend making life easier, others warn it’s a dangerous foe, threatening jobs, privacy, and even humanity itself.
So, which is it?
Friend?
Foe?
Or simply a tool?
Let’s dive into this 21st-century dilemma.
[Body – Part 1: AI as a Friend]
Let’s begin with the optimistic view: AI as a friend.
Every day, AI is helping doctors diagnose diseases more accurately, farmers monitor crops more efficiently, and educators personalize learning for students. Virtual assistants help us stay organized, and translation apps bring down language barriers around the world.
Take the example of AI in healthcare. IBM’s Watson can scan thousands of medical journals in seconds, helping doctors detect cancer earlier. AI-powered prosthetics are giving mobility back to amputees. In these cases, AI is not just a friend – it’s a lifesaver.
This version of AI is like a loyal companion – enhancing our capabilities, expanding access, and solving problems too big or complex for humans alone.
[Body – Part 2: AI as a Foe]
But not all is bright and beautiful.
There’s a darker side to AI that raises serious concerns.
AI can make decisions – but it doesn’t have values. Facial recognition software has shown racial bias. Algorithms used in hiring or lending have, at times, discriminated against certain groups. When left unchecked, AI systems can reinforce the very inequalities we hoped they’d fix.
And then there’s the job market. Automation is replacing cashiers, truck drivers, and even writers. Some estimates suggest that up to 40% of current jobs could be affected by AI in the coming decades. For many, AI isn’t a friend – it’s a pink slip.
Worst of all, AI in the hands of bad actors can be weaponized – spreading disinformation, hacking systems, or even powering autonomous drones.
That’s the AI we fear – cold, powerful, and uncontrollable.
[Body – Part 3: AI as a Tool]
But here’s the truth: AI is neither friend nor foe.
AI is a tool.
Just like fire can warm our homes or burn them down, AI’s impact depends on how we choose to use it. Fire isn’t evil – but it needs responsible management. So does AI.
We created it. We train it. We regulate it – or we must. The challenge isn’t stopping AI. It’s guiding it. That means ethical frameworks, strong regulations, public dialogue, and above all – human wisdom.
We wouldn’t hand a toddler a chainsaw. Nor should we let AI evolve unchecked.
[Conclusion – Call to Thought/Action]
So, is AI a friend? Yes – when used to help.
Is it a foe? It can be – when misused.
But above all, it is a tool – powerful, neutral, and shaped by the hand that wields it.
The future of AI isn’t written in code. It’s written by us.
Let’s choose wisely.
Thank you.
Let me know if you’d like this formatted as a downloadable PDF, PowerPoint presentation, or with notes for delivery.
You said:
User Prompt: Please add suggestions for speech tone, volume, and gestures.
ChatGPT said:
Certainly! Below is the annotated version of the speech with suggestions for tone, volume, and gestures to help enhance your delivery during a 5–7 minute Toastmasters presentation.
Title: “AI – Friend, Foe, or Tool?”
[Opening – Hook]
(Tone: curious and energetic. Smile. Use expressive gestures to create intrigue.)
“Fellow Toastmasters and honored guests,”
[Pause briefly – make eye contact with different parts of the room]
“Imagine waking up one morning to find that your coffee was brewed, your inbox sorted, and your car already warmed up – all without lifting a finger.”
(Gesture: open your hands slowly, as if presenting a surprise gift. Use a light, almost playful tone.)
“That’s not science fiction anymore. That’s artificial intelligence in action.”
(Change tone to slightly serious but still intrigued.)
“But while some see AI as a trusted friend making life easier, others warn it’s a dangerous foe, threatening jobs, privacy, and even humanity itself.”
“So, which is it?”
(Pause. Shift eye contact deliberately between audience sections for emphasis.)
“Friend?” (Softer tone, raise eyebrows)
“Foe?” (Lower your voice slightly and furrow your brow)
“Or simply a tool?” (Neutral tone, flat hand gesture like a balance)
[Body – Part 1: AI as a Friend]
(Tone: upbeat and positive. Use open, welcoming gestures.)
“Let’s begin with the optimistic view: AI as a friend.”
“Every day, AI is helping doctors diagnose diseases more accurately, farmers monitor crops more efficiently, and educators personalize learning for students.”
(Use three fingers to count off the examples. Moderate pace.)
“Virtual assistants help us stay organized, and translation apps bring down language barriers around the world.”
(Gesture: make a wall with your hands, then spread them apart for “bring down barriers”)
“Take the example of AI in healthcare. IBM’s Watson can scan thousands of medical journals in seconds, helping doctors detect cancer earlier.”
(Tone: respectful and awe-inspired. Gesture a scanning motion.)
“In these cases, AI is not just a friend – it’s a lifesaver.”
(Pause. Emphasize the word “lifesaver” with a calm, serious tone.)
[Body – Part 2: AI as a Foe]
(Tone: serious, concerned. Lower your voice slightly for gravity. Narrow your gestures.)
“But not all is bright and beautiful.”
(Slight head shake, drop in pitch.)
“There’s a darker side to AI that raises serious concerns.”
“AI can make decisions – but it doesn’t have values.”
(Gesture: point to head for “decisions,” then to heart for “values.” Slow down slightly.)
“Facial recognition software has shown racial bias. Algorithms used in hiring or lending have, at times, discriminated.”
(Tone: firm and informative. Use one hand to gesture “bias,” and another for “discriminated.”)
“And then there’s the job market…”
“Automation is replacing cashiers, truck drivers… even writers.”
(Slow down, raise eyebrows in mock surprise on “even writers.” Look around the room.)
“Worst of all, AI in the hands of bad actors can be weaponized – spreading disinformation, hacking systems, or even powering autonomous drones.”
(Build intensity, with rising volume on “weaponized.” Use a stern tone.)
[Body – Part 3: AI as a Tool]
(Tone: balanced, thoughtful. Hands in a weighing motion.)
“But here’s the truth: AI is neither friend nor foe.”
“AI is a tool.”
“Just like fire can warm our homes or burn them down, AI’s impact depends on how we choose to use it.”
(Gesture: mimic a small flame growing in your hand, then flick it away for “burn.”)
“Fire isn’t evil – but it needs responsible management. So does AI.”
“We created it. We train it. We regulate it – or we must.”
(Strong tone. Point to self on “we.” Use three sharp finger-count gestures.)
“We wouldn’t hand a toddler a chainsaw.”
(Raise eyebrows, slight smile to prompt a chuckle – lighten the mood.)
“Nor should we let AI evolve unchecked.”
(Drop smile. Sharpen tone again.)
[Conclusion – Call to Thought/Action]
(Tone: inspiring and confident. Build to a strong finish. Make deliberate eye contact.)
“So, is AI a friend? Yes – when used to help.”
“Is it a foe? It can be – when misused.”
“But above all, it is a tool – powerful, neutral, and shaped by the hand that wields it.”
(Gesture: extend your hand palm-up slowly, as if offering the choice to the audience.)
“The future of AI isn’t written in code.”
(Pause. Let the idea land.)
“It’s written by us.”
(Place hand on chest. Emphasize “us.”)
“Let’s choose wisely.”
(Hold eye contact. Nod subtly. Pause before your final words.)
“Thank you.”
Let me know if you’d like this adapted into a PDF or PowerPoint with slide cues for Toastmasters presentation style.
You said:
User Prompt: Please adapt into a pdf
ChatGPT said:
It seems like I can’t do more advanced data analysis right now. Please try again later.
In the meantime, if you’d like, I can give you a clean copy of the speech in plain text or formatted for copy-paste into Word, Google Docs, or another PDF tool you prefer. Let me know how you’d like to proceed!
End of Interaction
Five comments on working with ChatGPT:
1/ The whole interaction took less than five minutes. Most of that time was spent by me reading the output. The actual AI writing time was less than 20 sections in total. The interface was easy to use and quick to respond to the prompts.
2/ The speech provided by the AI did not meet the time parameters in the prompt. I asked for a five-to-seven-minute speech. The ChatGPT speech was four minutes at most, even with generous pauses.
3/ ChatGPT’s offer to adapt the speech with PDF or PowerPoint slide cues failed. This was due to the analytical limitations of the free account.
4/ In a Toastmasters meeting, evaluators are always watching for good vocal variety and meaningful gestures. The suggested gestures and vocalizations seemed spot on and useful for a novice speaker to practice.
5/ Overall, the speech is slightly above average. I believe a Distinguished Toastmaster would produce a speech of higher quality with more audience interaction. However, as a starting point, the ChatGPT speech provided a solid frame to build on. No doubt with more time and even more detailed prompts, the AI’s suggested speech could be substantially improved.
Final Thoughts
Am I worried that future Toastmasters clubs will be populated by precocious AIs? Not yet at least.
Right now, of the three options in the title of the speech I see AI as a useful tool. It can produce valuable content, but one needs to be careful about accepting it at face value. Even ChatGPT warns that it cannot be trusted by including the following line below the prompt space.
ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.
With that caution in mind, try it out yourself. Then come to your own conclusion as to whether it is a friend, foe, or tool.
Efficient Librarian 