The AI Use Case Treadmill Is Real

In this episode, Saurabh opens with a story about an that will feel familiar to many retail leaders — a senior executive who is exhausted. Not from the meeting, but from the AI use case treadmill. Two years. Dozens of pilots. A growing backlog. And a P&L that barely moved!That conversation became the lens for this episode's central argument: retailers are asking the wrong question about AI.The AI Use Case ProblemMost organizations approach AI the same way they've approached every tech wave — identify a pain point in an existing process and ask "can AI help here?" It feels logical, but it has a fundamental flaw: it assumes the underlying process is worth optimizing. When you bolt AI onto a workflow designed for manual execution, you make a flawed thing slightly better. The ROI fragments. Nothing feels transformational.The Better QuestionInstead of "how can AI help with this process?" — ask: If I were designing this function from scratch today, knowing that AI can plan, reason, act, and learn autonomously — what would I actually build?That single reframe changes EVERYTHING.Listen now on your favorite podcast platform: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | iHeartRadioConnect with The Retail TalesWebsite: www.retailtales.aiLinkedIn: @retailaitalesInstagram: @the.retail.talesX: @theretailtalesDISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast episode is intended for general informational purposes only. By accessing and listening to this episode, you acknowledge that none of the information provided herein should be construed as advice from The Retail Tales, its individual author(s), hosts, or guests. It is not intended to replace independent research on any subject matter. Any mention of specific products or entities does not imply an endorsement or recommendation by The Retail Tales. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and their appearance on the program does not constitute an endorsement by The Retail Tales or any associated entity. The host may have taken creative liberties to make the stories and experiences more appealing to the listeners.The Retail Tales waives all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or other damages that may result from an individual's use of, reference to, or reliance on this podcast or the information it contains.