121. AI in Retail: Risks, Realities, and the Future with Lee Gaul

121. AI in Retail: Risks, Realities, and the Future with Lee Gaul

Author: Shekar Raman Gary Hawkins September 16, 2025 Duration: 38:17

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Gary Hawkins and guest co-host Courtney Adams welcome Lee Gaul, AI Expert at Long Horizon AI, for a candid conversation about artificial intelligence.

Lee brings a cautionary perspective, looking beyond the hype to explore both the opportunities and the risks of AI. He discusses its manipulative and subconscious effects, addresses common concerns about an “AI takeover,” and shares how businesses can engage with AI responsibly to drive innovation while mitigating the risk of failure. This thoughtful discussion sheds light on what the rapid evolution of AI means for the future of retail and customer engagement.


Hosted by Shekar Raman, CEO of Birdzi, and Gary Hawkins, CEO of the Center for Advancing Retail & Technology, The Retail Perch offers a unique vantage point on the rapidly changing world of retail. This isn't just industry analysis; it's a series of conversations that dig into the practical intersections of technology, consumer behavior, and business strategy. Each episode provides a fresh perspective, challenging conventional thinking about how everyday retail operations are being transformed. The hosts draw from their deep frontline experience to build a new framework for understanding everything from your local grocery store to global e-commerce trends. Recognized among the top grocery industry podcasts to follow, the discussions here are grounded in real-world application. Tuning into this podcast means hearing directly from two thought leaders who are actively shaping the future of the sector, breaking down complex ideas into actionable insights for entrepreneurs, executives, and anyone curious about the business of selling. You'll find a focus on the tangible forces-data, AI, logistics, and customer experience-that are redrawing the competitive landscape right now.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Retail Perch
Podcast Episodes
59. Interview with Harold Lloyd of Harold Lloyd Presents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:15
This week Gary and Shekar have the pleasure of speaking with Harold Lloyd, vice president at Harold Lloyd Presents, Inc, where for the past 25 years he has been presenting ideas and solutions to the retail and supermarke…
58. Interview with David Klavsons of King Juice Co./Calypso Lemonade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:39
The Retail Perch is back this week with a refreshingly new perspective from a CPG company. Gary and Shekar interview David Klavsons, Chief Executive Officer at King Juice/Calypso Lemonade. David explains his journey from…
57. Interview with  Rupal Patel of VocaliD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:25
This week's episode is a slight departure from our usual focus on grocery retail. Shekar and Gary have the opportunity to speak with Rupal Patel, CEO of VocaliD, custom synthetic voice designers, and the makers of PARROT…
56. Interview with Daniel Lundh of Lifvs powered by Storekey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:33
Are unmanned stores the wave of the future? This week Gary and Shekar speak with Daniel Lundh, founder and COO of Lifvs, and the platform that powers it, Storekey. Daniel shares why areas of Sweden can be considered food…
55. Interview with John Readman of BOSCO™ powered by Modo25 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:24
This weak Shekar and Gary delve into digital marketing with John Readman, Founder & CEO BOSCO™ powered by Modo25, an AI machine learning tool that suggests where retailers should be investing their marketing spend. Throu…
54. Harold Lloyd Presents Share Group [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:16
In this special episode, Shekar Raman and Gary Hawkins participate in another Harold Lloyd Presents share group. They explain the danger and the opportunity presented by strategic personalization in the grocery industry.…
53. Interview with Mike Novosel of Cardlytics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:46
This week, Shekar, and guest host, Stephanie Doherty have the opportunity to speak with Mike Novosel, Industry Lead for Grocery, Gas & Convenience at Cardlytics. Cardlytics uses purchase-based intelligence to make market…
52. Interview with Jeremy Neren of GrocerKey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:34
This week Shekar and Gary speak with Jeremy Neren, co-founder and CEO of GorcerKey, a comprehensive e-commerce platform for independent and regional grocers. Jeremy explains how he went from a high school teacher to the…
51. Interview with Brandon Scholz of WGA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:51
This week Shekar and guest host Stephanie Doherty have the privilege of interviewing, Brandon Scholz, a partner at The Capitol Group and President & CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association. This episode is all about wor…
50. Gary and Shekar review The NGA Show and GroceryShop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:04
This week, Gary and Shekar review the most recent in-person events in Las Vegas. They discuss precautions taken around Covid, attendance, the possibility of hybrid events, and how lockdown may have affected attendance at…