AI Keynote Speaker for Small Business
David Caruso is an AI keynote speaker who uses AI to run his own business, not just to talk about it. In 2026 he rebuilt his ecommerce group of 60+ brands around AI while keeping headcount flat. He shows small business owners what AI is good for today, and how to start this week.
A business AI speaker with his own results
- One person working with AI now runs more than 700 websites across the group.
- Tools built with AI replaced paid software and outsourced work, saving $37,000 a year.
- An AI agent runs daily checks for errors and security problems across the systems.
- The rebuild started in early 2026, before there was any financial proof it would pay off. The full verdict is still coming, and David is upfront about that.
That matters. Your audience hears the honest version, from someone with his own money riding on it.
AI keynote topics
Your Next Hire Isn't Human
What happens when a small business treats AI like a staff member instead of another app. David runs an international operation of 60+ brands in 32+ countries with AI doing much of the heavy lifting, and shows the audience how, live on stage, and how to start within a week.
Enquire about this talkPreparing Your Business for the Agentic Web
Customers are starting to send AI agents to research, compare and buy on their behalf. If an agent cannot read your business, it cannot recommend it, and it cannot buy from it. David walks through what an agent-ready business looks like, machine-readable pages, published prices, structured answers, a way for an agent to enquire or order without a browser, and shows what he has done on his own sites so the audience can copy it that week.
Enquire about this talkThe One-Person Empire
How one owner runs dozens of online stores without a big team: systems, checklists, and knowing exactly what to automate and what to keep hands-on.
Enquire about this talkAI Without the Hype
A working session rather than a prediction session. David builds a real, useful tool for a real audience member's business, live on stage.
Enquire about this talkDefensive AI and offensive AI
There are two ways to use AI in a small business, and most owners only think of one.
Defensive AI saves money. It replaces paid subscriptions and brings in-house the work you used to pay an agency or contractor to do. The boring jobs get cheaper.
Offensive AI makes money. It helps your marketing reach more people and follow up faster than anyone could by hand.
David's advice is to do both and start with defence, because the savings pay for the offence.
The agentic web: when your customer is an AI agent
Customers are starting to send AI agents to research, compare and buy for them. An agent can't be charmed by branding. It reads facts. If it can't read your business, it can't recommend you and it can't buy from you.
David shows what an agent-ready business looks like. Machine-readable pages. Published prices. Structured answers. A way for an agent to enquire without a browser. This website is his worked example.
An AI speaker for small business owners
The talk is built for owners and managers. No jargon, no crystal-ball predictions. In "AI Without the Hype", David builds a real, useful tool for someone in the audience, live on stage.
David works well as an AI conference speaker for SME conferences, chambers of commerce, industry associations, franchise networks and seminar series for small business customers. Talks run as a 45 to 60 minute keynote or a half-day workshop, in person or online.
AI keynote speaker fees
Most of David's keynotes fall between $3,500 and $5,000 AUD. The fee is quoted per event, and it covers preparation and travel as well as stage time. A custom workshop or several sessions are quoted separately.
Send your event details and you'll get availability and a proposal within 24 hours.
What event organisers say
David was absolutely wonderful, a very insightful and engaging professional speaker. Exactly what we needed.
We were thoroughly impressed with his ability to connect with business owners and share valuable insights. David was collaborative, engaging, and gained rave reviews from all who attended.
David is an informative and entertaining Speaker who will stimulate your thoughts and ideas about how your business could run better.
AI keynote speaker FAQs
What AI is useful for in a small business right now. Cutting costs and routine work. Faster marketing. Getting found when customers ask AI who to use. David shows real examples from his own business and how to start within a week.
No. It's built for business owners. If your audience can use email, they can follow it.
Yes. In "AI Without the Hype" he builds a working tool for a real audience member's business during the session.
It's customers sending AI agents to research, compare and buy for them instead of browsing themselves. A business that agents can't read won't be recommended. David explains how to get ready.
Yes. "What Google's AI Search Means for Your Business" covers both, and any keynote can be tailored to mix AI and marketing for your audience.
David's keynotes are generally $3,500 to $5,000 AUD, quoted per event.
No. He speaks across Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. Online, he can present anywhere.
Use the enquiry form on the speaking page. You'll get availability and a proposal within 24 hours.
Make your next event the one they keep talking about
Tell us about your event and we’ll come back within 24 hours with availability and a customised proposal.