AI is not the answer; it's a tool.

In this episode of the Design Executive Podcast, Gordon Ching is joined by Andy Vitale, VP, Head of Product Design at Taxwell, to explore how AI is reshaping product, design, and business strategy. They examine the hype surrounding artificial intelligence. While much of the world is chasing AI's "magical" promise, Andy brings it back to reality: AI isn’t here to solve all our problems; it’s here to help us solve them smarter and faster.

He stresses that true value comes when AI is grounded in real human needs. For Andy, design's role in AI isn't about chasing shiny tools, it's about defining the right problems, understanding user outcomes, and then applying AI with purpose. Throughout the conversation, Andy brings a human-centered lens to a tech-saturated topic, calling on leaders to stop asking what AI can do and start asking what people actually need. How can we make people comfortable with AI and provide them with value? 

The real impact happens when we focus on human intent, when we champion the human experience and connect it to measurable business value/outcomes. AI can help only if the solution is grounded in people-first thinking.

His message is clear: go back to the basics, communicate the intent, stay curious, and use AI to accelerate what matters. 

Podcast Recorded in October 2024

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