When AI Becomes a Real Business Asset, Not a Buzzword with Vikram Chalana

Everyone is talking about AI. Every product is announcing an AI strategy. But underneath the noise, a quieter question keeps surfacing for founders and leaders: are we actually getting value from this, or are we just spending on it? In this BizBlend conversation, Sana sits with Vikram Chalana, Co-Founder and CEO of Pictory, to separate genuine AI value from FOMO-driven adoption.If you've ever felt the pressure to move faster on AI but weren't sure where to start, this episode is a grounded reset. Vikram shares what most businesses get wrong about AI adoption, why discipline and clarity matter more than urgency, where AI still struggles, and the simple founder principle that protects you from chasing every shift: fall in love with the problem, not the solution.About the Guest:Vikram Chalana is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pictory, one of the fastest-growing AI video platforms in the world, ranked #616 on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list and #19 in the AI and Data category. He has been working in AI for over three decades, from his PhD research to enterprise software and now generative AI, and previously co-founded Winshuttle, an enterprise software company. Key Takeaways:AI isn't a 2022 phenomenon. It has moved through multiple waves of excitement and quiet over the last three decades, and the current ChatGPT era is one chapter, not the whole story.Most businesses adopt AI without a clear business outcome. Without a defined goal — save time, make money, create content faster — adoption stalls and people churn.Hidden adoption is a leadership problem. When teams use AI quietly because nobody set the expectation to share it, you lose the compounding value of best practices.AI still struggles with exception handling. In finance, accounting, and other regulated, rule-heavy work, the technology gap is real and worth respecting.Building is no longer the hard part. Demand creation and reaching the right audience remain the toughest challenge for any founder.Fall in love with the problem, not your solution. The why stays steady even when the who and the how change.Perfect is the enemy of good. Real-world feedback is the only signal that matters, so launch before it feels ready.Connect With Vikram Chalana:LinkedIn: Vikram ChalanaWebsite: pictory.aiEpisode Chapters:[00:00] Cold Open — Adopting AI vs building with AI, the difference that matters[03:57] Meet Vikram Chalana — 30 years in AI, before ChatGPT made it a household word[06:54] AI Didn't Start With ChatGPT — A quick history of the waves[09:50] What Most Businesses Get Wrong About AI Value[12:42] Leadership vs Technology — Why hidden AI use is a culture problem (approx.)[16:50] Where AI Still Falls Short — Exception handling, finance, compliance (approx.)[20:30] The Real Startup Challenge — Demand creation, not building (approx.)[31:30] Staying Anchored When the Ground Keeps Shifting — Meditation, instincts, and the why (approx.)[36:00] One Message for Leaders Sitting With AI Uncertainty🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life?Send me a direct message on PodMatch.👉 DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik🌱 About Healthy Mind By Avik™️Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Global Mental Wellness Podcast Network - focused, credible, no more identity clutter.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.Refer a GuestKnow someone who would be a great fit for one of our podcast shows? Email us at [email protected] with the subject line “Refer a Guest.” Requests without this subject line cannot be catered to.Support Our Podcast: Support this Podcast📬 Contact & LinksBrand: Healthy Mind By Avik™️Contact UsBased in: India & USA🎧 All Podcast Shows🤝 Be a Guest📩 Newsletter Substack👉 Join the LinkedIn Community📌 Disclaimer - This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.If you have concerns about any content, please contact us hereBy listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.#podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #bizblend #aiforbusiness #aiadoption #pictory #aivideo #generativeai #founderjourney #saasleadership #aistrategy #startuplife #leadership #fallinlovewiththeproblem #productledgrowth #aitools #entrepreneurship