The Persuasion Engine

The AI-driven communications agency that automates expert human knowledge.

A humanoid , AI-powered robot named Sua — pronounced “Sway,” as in the second syllable of “per•sua•sion” — speaks on behalf of The Persuasion Engine.

AI is a commodity. Persuasion isn’t.

The Persuasion Engine builds narrative-smart AI tools that listen, adapt, and converse with people in the language of their values.

We turn real-time conversation into mass media — revolutionizing persuasive power, saving time, cutting costs.

What sets us apart?

We’re the first AI platform trained in narrative strategy. Our bots:

  • Mirror your brand’s voice

  • Collect anonymized audience insights

  • Turn research into testable media — fast

  • Explain, persuade, and adapt in real time

The result: scalable, personalized, human communication across platforms.

We’re full-service: Strategy, communications know-how, tech, and deployment for:

  • Marketing & Advertising

  • Education

  • Nonprofits & Social Causes

  • Media

  • Strategic Communications

  • Audience Research

  • Content Testing

  • Political Campaigns

Want to see it in action? Click the button — we’ll get right back to you.

News + Press

First large-scale trials prove our AI tools “remarkably effective”

On April 16, having concluded testing as part of a year-long narrative research study of lonely young men potentially vulnerable to extremist outreach, it was announced that four custom-trained AI chatbots from The Persuasion Engine had successfully turned interviews and conversational advocacy into mass media, conducting one-on-one, real-time conversations with nearly a thousand selected individuals. This appears to have been a first-time breakthrough for AI.

“The interactive chatbots proved remarkably effective at shifting attitudes and building engagement.”

—Final report of “Engaging Young Men Before Extremists Do.”

This is a potentially revolutionary development for organizations that must produce persuasive communications. That includes practically every organization of any size and it’s particularly critical to advertisers, marketers, educators, journalists, social and political organizers, narrative strategists, world-changers, storytellers, and creators of all kinds. Science has consistently proven that one-on-one conversation is far and away the most persuasive form of communication — the most effective way to change beliefs and behaviors. The one great failing of conversation was that it could not be scaled. Until now.

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Who We Are

  • Co-Founder

    Kirk develops strategy and AI-powered tools for audience research and persuasive content. A Pulitzer-finalist journalist, author, and founder of the groundbreaking agency Story Worldwide, he has shaped brand and storytelling for global brands and progressive causes. His recent work includes narrative change initiatives with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Open Society Foundations. Clients have included Unilever, General Motors and many more. He co-authored The Storytellers’ Guide, The Science of Winning with Stories and many other articles.

  • Co-Founder

    Adam translates expert thinking into AI-powered tools for storytelling, problem-solving, education, media, and communication. A leading tech journalist and founding director of NYU’s Online Master’s in Journalism Program, he has written for The New York Times, Wired, and The Economist, and authored eight books. His work now focuses on training machines to reason like experts—transforming how we create, persuade, and innovate.