Pelatihan Strategi Public Speaking di Tengah Perkembangan Artificial Intelligence Strategic Public Speaking Training in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

This community service program aimed to enhance the public speaking competence of Hospitality students at SMK Yayasan Pharmasi Semarang through a structured training model integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. The program was motivated by students' limited initial understanding of the importance of public speaking in the digital era and the underutilization of AI as a self-directed learning tool. A participatory approach was employed, consisting of pre-test, instructional sessions, guided practice, discussion, and post-test evaluation. The training materials covered fundamental public speaking techniques, persuasive communication strategies, and the practical application of AI tools to support speech preparation and performance improvement. The program lasted 3.5 hours and involved 30 students and three supervising teachers. The evaluation results demonstrated a significant improvement across three key dimensions. Students’ conceptual understanding of public speaking increased from 33% to 83%, comprehension of AI utilization in public speaking rose from 17% to 90%, and self-confidence in speaking in public or on social media improved from 36% to 86%. The average increase in participants’ overall understanding reached 55.55%. These findings indicate that integrating communication training with AI-based support effectively strengthens both cognitive understanding and practical skills. The program helps prepare vocational graduates who are adaptive, technologically literate, and professionally equipped to meet the demands of the hospitality industry in the era of digital transformation.