Why Most AI Strategies Fail—and What Execs Must Do Differently

Why Data Clean Rooms Are the Future of CPG and Media Collaboration

What do data clean rooms really do—and why should every CPG leader care? In this episode of Applied Intelligence, I sit down with Puneet Gangrade—one of the leading voices in privacy-enhancing tech and data clean room adoption. We unpack how clean rooms are transforming everything from retail media to supply chain visibility, and why every brand, publisher, and platform needs a long-term clean room strategy. Puneet also breaks down: * How clean rooms evolved from pharma to ad tech * The hidden role of cryptography and trust engineering * Non-media use cases (QSR, loyalty, inventory, finance, CPG) * Why the real challenge isn’t tech—it’s politics, intent, and trust * What it takes to scale clean rooms (hint: org design and full-time owners) * The future intersection of AI + privacy—and what to watch out for This is a must-watch if you care about data-driven growth, privacy, and cross-party collaboration. Timestamps: 00:00 – The Hidden Revolution Behind Data Clean Rooms 02:10 – What Clean Rooms Really Do (And Why Everyone’s Confused) 06:20 – Privacy Meets Personalization: The Cryptography Shift 10:30 – How Amazon Quietly Opened the Clean Room Floodgates 15:00 – The Wildest Use Cases: From QSRs to Airlines 24:50 – Building Trust Without Sharing Data 31:00 – The Question That Determines Every Clean Room’s Value 35:00 – The Politics No One Talks About in Data Collaboration 40:00 – Turning a Pilot Into a Scalable Clean Room Engine 46:00 – Why Clean Rooms Are Replacing CDPs 52:00 – The One Skill Every Modern Marketer Needs 56:00 – How Reallocating Spend Drove 10% Extra Revenue 1:02:00 – Why Every Cloud Platform Is Rushing to Build Its Own 1:08:00 – The Tension Between AI and Privacy That Keeps Puneet Up 1:16:00 – The Rule That Defines the Future of Data Collaboration 🎙️ Guest: Puneet Gangrade [https://www.linkedin.com/in/puneetgangrade/] , LiveRamp [https://www.linkedin.com/company/liveramp/] ⁠My Social [https://linktr.ee/imteaz] Watch the Full episode ⁠here [https://youtu.be/Yn76WRSwNVs].

CPG Media’s AI Tipping Point: Strategy, Automation, and the Next 12 Months

I break down where retail media is headed—and why AI agents, owned ad accounts, and centralized data are now non-negotiables for CPG brands.

Why Most AI Strategies Fail—and What Execs Must Do Differently

Most execs operate on “vibe knowledge.” Here’s how to lead AI transformation with clarity and speed. What do executive decision-making, eCommerce innovation, and AI implementation all have in common? They’re often guided by gut feel—rather than data. In this episode of Applied Intelligence, Chris Perry [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisaperry/] (Chief Learning Officer, firstmovr) and Oskar Kaszubski [https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskarkaszubski/] (Chief Growth Officer, firstmovr) pull back the curtain on what’s really holding companies back from meaningful change. We go deep on: * The difference between core knowledge vs. vibe knowledge * Why retailers need to stop treating AI like it’s magic * The “Fourth Mover” strategy that may actually be smarter than being first * What makes AI operationally useful instead of just shiny * How retail media is breaking org structures—and what to do about it * Why incremental KPIs are killing transformation * What we can all learn from eCommerce’s last 15 years (aka the “training ground”) Whether you’re a CPG exec, AI optimist, or digital transformation skeptic, this conversation is a must-listen. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 03:12 – Retail media is an operating model, not a channel 12:00 – Want change? Change what you measure 17:18 – Vibe knowledge vs. core knowledge in the C-suite 26:05 – The AI treadmill is speeding up 33:00 – Why AI didn’t fail—you did 53:51 – We don’t have 15 years to figure this out 1:16:24 – The last 15 years was just training 🎙️ Guests: Chris Perry [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisaperry/] & Oskar Kaszubski, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskarkaszubski/] firstmovr [https://firstmovr.com/] My Social [https://linktr.ee/imteaz] Watch the Full episode here [https://youtu.be/wPkj9zOZqo4].

The AI Mistake That Killed a Healthcare Project with David Norris

In this episode of Applied Intelligence, I speak with David Norris, CEO of Infinitus Systems, about what happens when healthcare AI is “almost right”—and why that’s not good enough. We dive into how AI is helping burned-out doctors reclaim their time, how trust is built through background mode, and why some healthcare incumbents won’t survive the next 5 years. If you care about building ethical, scalable, human-centered AI—especially in high-stakes industries like health—this episode is a must-listen. 00:00 – Welcome and intro to David Norris 00:45 – Is AI burnout real in healthcare? 02:00 – Automating the clinical inbox and freeing doctors’ time 03:50 – Using ChatGPT to analyze job candidate feedback 06:00 – Training AI to understand thousands of lab results 08:00 – The difference between speed and impact in healthcare 09:20 – “AI won’t replace doctors, but…” 10:30 – The moment David knew AI was ready for medicine 12:00 – When 80% accuracy is dangerous: A failed AI rollout 14:00 – Why healthcare needs deterministic AI, not probabilistic guesses 15:30 – What is background mode, and why it builds trust 17:15 – Instant relief: Inbox load cut in half 18:00 – Patients getting lab responses in minutes, not days 20:00 – Making providers superhuman 21:30 – What legacy healthcare companies don’t understand about AI 24:00 – The UX pain of hospitals: Lag, delay, and context switching 25:45 – “We eliminate clicks before they happen” 27:00 – Real-time briefings for providers before they enter a room 28:15 – Why selling AI to hospitals is brutally hard 29:40 – Gaining trust in AI: Small pilots, not big promises 30:30 – What regulation is helping—and what’s hurting innovation 32:00 – The most important value: Transparency with patients 33:00 – David’s story: Why he built this company 34:15 – Dogs in the office and leadership lessons from cycling 35:40 – The book he’s gifting: The Brothers (Van Halen bio) 36:30 – Where to connect with David 🎧 Watch the full episode also on Youtube → https://youtu.be/IyzrDSJhCD8 [https://youtu.be/IyzrDSJhCD8] My Social → https://linktr.ee/imteaz [https://linktr.ee/imteaz] Guest Social → https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidnorris430/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidnorris430/]

How AI is Revolutionizing CPG: Insights from Industry Leaders

In this episode, I sit down with Sri Rajagopalan to delve into the transformative power of AI in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. We talk about how AI is reshaping media buying, content creation, and talent development, while also addressing volume challenges and the need for responsible AI practices. What you’ll learn in this episode: * Why generative AI is the next industrial revolution. * How retail media and data clean rooms are driving efficiency. * Why CPG companies need to rethink team structures for AI integration. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction: Welcome to the Applied Intelligence & CPG Podcast 3:14 - AI and the Promise of Agentic Transformation 6:13 - Absorbing E-commerce into Sales & Marketing: Pros & Cons 12:46 - Why E-commerce Talent Faces Limited Career Paths 18:42 - AI’s Role in Media Buying & Content Creation 24:04 - How AI Can Solve Volume Challenges in the CPG Sector 31:13 - Responsible AI and Governance in Media & Content 38:40 - Structuring Teams for AI Success in CPG 44:12 - Final Thoughts: The Future of AI in CPG Follow the Applied Intelligence Podcast for more insights on the intersection of technology and business!