The New Research Architecture with Carol Haney

“Don’t let AI make you stupid” is the warning at the center of this conversation about how research is changing. Carol Haney, Head of Data Science, Statistics & Research at Qualtrics, joins host Niels Schillewaert, Head of Research at Conveo.ai, to discuss whether declining survey response rates signal a temporary dip or a structural shift in market research and CX. They cover practical survey fundamentals (shorter surveys, fewer “kitchen sink” questions, and consistent follow-up on open ends), the rise of ambient listening from call and chat transcripts, and how organizations are blending surveys, social data, and AI into composite metrics. Carol also explains how AI can speed questionnaire design, fielding, and analytics while still requiring strong methodology and critical thinking.00:00 Stats Meets Agentic AI00:18 Podcast Intro and Big Question02:55 Are Surveys Still Relevant06:29 Fixing Survey Fundamentals08:15 How Companies Are Adapting10:28 Business Impact and ROI14:14 Ambient Listening Explained16:23 Composite Metrics and Indexing18:55 Researcher Skills in the AI Era22:00 Using AI Without Losing Rigor26:35 Future of Insights Teams27:55 Key Takeaways and ClosingInsights & Innovators Podcast from MRII | Hosted by The Greenbook Podcast NetworkExplore more episodes and resources → https://www.greenbook.org/podcast-networkLearn more about MRII → https://mrii.org/