This book explores the evolving art of public speaking, a timeless skill rooted in persuasion, leadership, and teaching -- as it undergoes a profound transformation in the age of artificial intelligence and immersive technologies. How often have we found ourselves preparing a presentation -- whether for work, a startup, or a company -- sitting at home or in the office, gripped by performance anxiety? We search for the right words, the perfect slides, the ideal script… all driven by the desire to finally feel prepared.
This book explores the evolving art of public speaking, a timeless skill rooted in persuasion, leadership, and teaching -- as it undergoes a profound transformation in the age of artificial intelligence and immersive technologies. How often have we found ourselves preparing a presentation -- whether for work, a startup, or a company -- sitting at home or in the office, gripped by performance anxiety? We search for the right words, the perfect slides, the ideal script… all driven by the desire to finally feel prepared.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing not just how we work, but how we create, communicate, and train. For example, Bank of America’s iCoach project uses metaverse simulations and AI feedback to guide employees through difficult conversations. An impressive 97% of users report feeling more confident in their roles. Similarly, a study co-developed by Intel and HTC Vive found that immersive training increased motivation, reduced costs, and delivered a 300% ROI. Since 2020, the use of virtual reality in corporate training has quadrupled, with organizations increasingly adopting immersive environments for public speaking rehearsals, interviews, and digital events. Yet, traditional communication training remains largely unchanged—still rooted in classical rhetorical models, with little guidance for hybrid, AI-enhanced, or fully virtual contexts.
This book fills that critical gap. It redefines public speaking by integrating emerging dimensions such as human-machine interaction, avatar-mediated communication, AI-generated speech, and virtual presence.
The book is divided into three parts: the first, Principles, includes three chapters. From the basics of icebreaking, the foundation of storytelling, to the augmented creativity that can be applied for the realization and improvement of a pitch or speech. It comprises three interviews with global experts: Damian Scavo, founder of Streetbeat; Alvin Wang Graylin, a technological leader, author, and entrepreneur; Davide Viglialoro, a lecturer in Strategy and Entrepreneurship; and Canto i Fatti, a case study of innovation in social channels that uses AI-powered storytelling in novel ways.
The second part of the book is Augmented Rhetorics. Rethinking Speech in the Age of Technology, which includes two chapters: Train Your Thinking and The Evolution of the Words. An analysis that starts with the types of thinking and moves to two relevant skills, part of our humanity: reading and writing. Then, the linguistic intelligence and its role with the advent of prompt engineering. Moreover, two interviews: the first with Francesco Frasca, a two-time world champion in bench press powerlifting, and the second with Francesco Finazzi, Founder and CEO of Mindoor, a start-up that addresses one of the most pressing challenges: mental well-being.
And the last, Augmented Speaker, with three chapters that prepare the reader for the first simulation of public speaking in virtual reality, from technical headset settings to possible features. Then, how to build a long-term strategy across the five levels, introduce AI agents, outline their applications, and create a continuous improvement loop. The latest chapter, From Zero to Pitch, is only an exercise in improving prompting and pitching. Moreover, two interviews, one with Professor Jemery Bailenson, a communication professor at Stanford University and the founding director of the Virtual Human Interaction Lab, and the second with Alberto Tono, an expert in artificial intelligence and a PhD in Computer Science from Stanford.
Last but not least, the analysis and presentation of a new platform, VoxcoachAI, were launched as part of this book's case study: for receiving real-time AI feedback, practicing with interactive roleplay, tracking progress, and improving your public speaking, presentations, and pitches.
Introduction
PART I - PRINCIPLES
Chapter 1. Icebreaking
Origins
Why does it scare us?
Situational Influence
Progress Over Perfection
Expert Perspective: Interview with Davide Viglialoro
Reference List
2. Art of Storytelling
What makes a Pitch Work?
The Power of Storytelling
Spark a Feeling
Evoke Curiosity
Pitch Deck
Manual Vs. AI — Assisted Slide Workflow
Core Slides
From Picture to Video
Expert Perspective: Interview with Damian Scavo
Case Study: Canto I Fatti
Reference List
Chapter 3. Augmented Creativity
From Genius to Creative
The Invisible Enemy
The Path to Mastery
A New Dimension
Augmented Creativity
Human–AI Co-Creation
Expert Perspective: Interview with Alvin Wang Graylin
Reference List
PART II - Augmented Rhetorics. Rethinking Speech in the Age of Technology
Chapter 4. Train Your Thinking
Types of Thinking
Vertical Vs. Lateral Thinking
Endurance and strength
Memory
Powerful Tool for Memorizing Your Pitch
Reading
Writing
Expert Perspective: Interview with Francesco Frasca
Reference List
Chapter 5. The Evolution of The Words
Linguistic Intelligence
Building Growth Mindsets through Words
Words and Artificial Intelligence
Writing Prompts
Elements of a Good Prompt
Giving the AI a Role or a Persona
Defining Boundaries and the Level of Detail
Providing Audience Demographics
Detailing the Output Format
Defining the Tone
Quick Prompting Techniques
Zero Shot Prompt
One Shot Prompt
What not to do
Human Communication
Expert Perspective: Interview with Francesco Finazzi
Case Study: CamUp
Reference List
PART III - Augmented Speaker
Chapter 6. Your First Immersive AI-Pitch
Devices, Ecosystems, and Global Adoption Patterns
How to Set Up Your Headset
Generative Pitch
Voice Commands
Interactions
Ethics and Limits
Expert Perspective: Interview with Prof. Jemery Bailenson
Reference List
Chapter 7. Building a Long-term Strategy
Five levels
AI Agents
AI agent, AI Assistant, and Bot
Advantages and Challenges
Example of Use Cases
Applications
Artificial Intelligence
Immersive Training
Continuous Improvement Loop
The Human Skills
Expert Perspective: Interview with Alberto Tono
Reference List
Chapter 8. From Zero to Pitch
Exercise — Prompting
AI as a Co-Creator
AI as a Product Owner
Hypothesis Validation
Product Pitch Generator
Prompt Debugging: What’s Wrong With It?
Final Challenge
Exercise — Pitching
Small Habits
Intensive Elevator Pitch
Investor Pitch Simulation
Objection Handling Masterclass
Job Interview Preparation
Weekly Guided Practice
Public Speaking and Storytelling in VR
Case Study: VoxCoachAI
Reference List
Conclusion
Is It Possible to Delegate Communication to Robots?
Translating Thoughts
Future of Public Speaking
Reference List
Acknowledgment
Matteo Zaralli founded VRAINERS, an innovative project that realized an E-learning Platform App in Virtual Reality available on the official Horizon Store for all Oculus devices. In 2022, he won the Fulbright scholarship for the BEST Program in Silicon Valley. He worked at StartX in Palo Alto as a Communications Fulbright Fellow. Matteo won the Intercultura (AFS) scholarship for international school and cultural exchanges. He holds a BSc in Business Administration, an MSc in Management from the European School of Economics, and an MSc in Philosophy from Università degli Studi Roma TRE. As a strategic Learning expert, in 2019, he was hosted by RAI1 at different programs like “Superbrain.” He is the Author of “Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence. Risks And Opportunities For Your Business.” published in February 2024 by Routledge. Awarded by the Internet 2.0 Conference in Dubai for the Oustanding Leadership Award in recognition of the contribution to the field of technology in February 2024 and awarded by Global Business Leadership Forum in Mumbai as Promising Leader of the Year in Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence in April 2024.
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Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence: Risks and Opportunities for Your Business ISBN: 9781032575049
The Evolution of Professional Training: How Artificial Intelligence Technologies Can Accelerate the Learning
ISBN: 9781032913605
ISBN 9781041230304
208 Pages 20 B/W Illustrations
May 23, 2026 by Productivity Press
Paperback - Hardback - eBook
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