About Applied AI Speakers
The World's First
Tandem AI Speaker Bureau
We pair extraordinary human stories with cutting-edge AI expertise — delivering keynotes that inspire audiences emotionally and equip them with practical AI tools they can use the very next day.
Our Mission
Inspiration That Lasts Beyond the Applause
Most keynotes leave audiences moved — but not equipped. The inspiration fades by Monday morning. Applied AI Speakers was founded to solve that problem.
Every engagement we deliver has two halves: a partner speaker who shares a remarkable human story — resilience, reinvention, courage, mastery — and an AI expert who deconstructs that story live on stage and shows the audience exactly how AI can help them replicate those outcomes in their own lives and organizations.
The result is a keynote that delivers both emotional impact and actionable intelligence. Your audience leaves inspired and equipped. That's the Applied AI difference.
The Format
How a Tandem Keynote Works
Every Applied AI Speakers engagement follows a proven two-part structure designed to maximize both emotional resonance and practical impact.
The Story
A partner speaker from our roster takes the stage and delivers their extraordinary keynote — a human story of resilience, reinvention, courage, or mastery. The audience is moved, inspired, and engaged.
The AI-Powerup
John Chmela — "AI Johnny" — steps in and performs a live AI-Jacking of the story the audience just heard. He deconstructs the blueprint, reverse-engineers the success, and re-engineers it with AI tools the audience can use immediately.
The Takeaway
The audience leaves with both the inspiration of the human story AND a concrete, customized AI action plan for their industry. Not motivation that fades — transformation that sticks.
Applied AI
(AI-Jacking)
AI-Jacking is the proprietary framework at the heart of every Applied AI Speakers engagement. Developed by John Chmela over 30+ years in computing and AI, it's a three-step process for turning any success story into an AI-powered blueprint your audience can follow.
Deconstruct
Identify the success blueprint inside the speaker's story — the exact principles, decisions, and turning points.
Reverse Engineer
Break down the blueprint so the audience understands the underlying structure — the how, not just the what.
Re-Engineer with AI
Rebuild the blueprint using AI tools to make it faster, smarter, and accessible to anyone in the room.
Why It Works
Audiences don't just hear about AI in the abstract — they watch it happen live, applied to a story they just experienced emotionally. The combination of narrative resonance and practical demonstration creates a learning moment that sticks.
John has published 60+ Applied AI blueprints on LinkedIn — AI-Jacking the careers of everyone from Paul McCartney to Warren Buffett to Neil Chuck — proving the methodology works across every industry and discipline.
Who We Serve
Built for Every Stage
From intimate corporate retreats to national conferences, Applied AI Speakers delivers for organizations of every size and sector.
Corporate Events
Leadership summits, all-hands meetings, sales kickoffs, and executive retreats looking for AI education that actually sticks.
Conferences & Associations
Industry conferences, trade associations, and professional organizations seeking a keynote that delivers both inspiration and practical AI tools.
Educational Institutions
Universities, K-12 schools, and training programs that want to introduce AI literacy through compelling human stories and live demonstrations.
The Roster
28 Extraordinary Speakers.
One AI Expert.
Our roster spans criminal justice reform, Cold War espionage, championship athletics, mental health advocacy, entrepreneurship, event planning, music, real estate, and more. Every speaker has a story worth telling — and John Chmela has the AI-Powerup to make it unforgettable.