Prasad Shejale, Founder & CEO, and Venugopal Ganganna, Co-founder & CIO of LS Digital, are pioneers in shaping the future of AI-powered marketing. With their in-depth research and expertise in blending human creativity with AI technology, they discuss the transformative potential of the AI Marketing Stack in revolutionizing brand strategies. Their vision emphasizes the importance of a hybrid approach that combines the efficiency of AI with the emotional resonance of human insight, empowering brands to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.
How does offering Research AI for free drive long-term strategic value for the business?
Prasad Shejale: We are offering some of our key Research AI agents free of charge for a stipulated period as part of a strategic initiative aimed at delivering long-term value. Our core objective is to continue serving as a trusted innovation partner for our clients. By providing access to our advanced AI-driven research tools, we aim to empower businesses with a competitive edge in their respective sectors and markets. This initiative is also designed to break down the barriers to AI adoption, addressing concerns around risks and return on investment. By partnering closely with our clients and prospects, we want them to experience first-hand the transformative power of AI. This hands-on exposure not only facilitates innovation but also helps unlock new growth opportunities and revenue streams. Our Research AI agents offer deep insights and actionable data, which, when combined with our robust strategic consulting and marketing execution capabilities, can propel our clients’ growth trajectories to unprecedented levels. This partnership-driven approach underscores our commitment to fostering sustainable growth and long-term success for our clients.
What unique advantages does the AI Marketing Stack offer compared to existing AI-powered marketing solutions?
Prasad Shejale: We all recognise that mastering AI technology is the new arms race in the marketing world. While numerous players are entering this space alongside existing AI solution providers, we believe it’s crucial to look beyond the ‘shiny object syndrome’. What sets us apart is our unique approach, combining Human Intelligence with our advanced AI Marketing Stack. This powerful synergy enables clients to move beyond automation and implement truly intelligent strategies. We also acknowledge that there is a maturity curve when it comes to adopting AI in marketing, and we see ourselves as enablers throughout this journey. Our role is to guide and support our clients at every stage, ensuring that they seamlessly integrate AI into their marketing processes while maximising its benefits. From a research perspective, our AI stack allows marketers to study human behaviour at an unprecedented scale by analysing and interpreting human emotions across billions of digital data points from various platforms.Our solution is designed with flexibility in mind, offering a full-stack capability that ensures seamless integration across diverse marketing functions. Moreover, our commitment to continuous innovation ensures that our AI Marketing Stack evolves in step with technological advancements. This guarantees clients access to cutting-edge solutions, keeping them ahead in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.
With AI becoming a core component of marketing strategies, what key skills do you think marketing leaders need to develop to leverage AI effectively?
Venugopal Ganganna:There is no denying that AI skills have become a fundamental requirement in today’s new era of marketing. For marketing leaders, leveraging AI effectively is less about becoming technical experts and more about being strategic visionaries. The key lies in identifying areas within brand marketing where AI can deliver tangible value and developing a clear roadmap for its adoption. Familiarity with AI tools is essential, whether it’s using AI for consumer research, employing generative AI for creative ideation and content production, or harnessing predictive AI to uncover trends and craft forward-thinking brand solutions.
Equally important is honing creative problem-solving skills. While AI opens up limitless possibilities for innovation, its true potential is unlocked by those who are open to thinking outside the box and adapting swiftly to the ever-evolving marketing technology landscape. As the saying goes, “with great power comes great responsibility.” One of the inherent challenges of AI is the risk of misuse. Therefore, marketing leaders must prioritize building and maintaining trust with their customers by ensuring AI is used responsibly and ethically. Balancing innovation with integrity will be critical for long-term success in this AI-driven marketing era.
Beyond your collaboration with Quilt, what cutting-edge AI technologies are you developing internally to advance AI-powered marketing?
Venugopal Ganganna: Quilt remains an invaluable partner in enhancing our clients’ AI-driven marketing strategies, particularly in strategic brand research across categories, competitors, and customer intelligence. However, our vision extends beyond individual collaborations—we aim to be a holistic AI marketing stack consultant for our partner clients.
To that end, we have built robust internal capabilities that leverage AI across key marketing functions, including content creation & optimization, media strategy & planning, and personalized content delivery. These technologies help brands streamline operations while creating deeper audience connections through data-driven insights and tailored experiences. By integrating advanced AI capabilities, we provide clients with a seamless, end-to-end solution that keeps them ahead in an evolving digital landscape. Our holistic approach ensures that clients fully leverage AI to drive growth, foster innovation, and achieve lasting success. We are committed to supporting them every step of the way as they navigate the future of AI-powered marketing.
Do you both believe AI-driven marketing will eventually replace traditional approaches entirely, or will a hybrid model remain essential?
Prasad Shejale: AI-driven marketing is reshaping the industry, offering efficiencies, insights, and automation. However, I believe a hybrid model will remain essential. At its core, marketing is about human connections. While AI can analyse data, optimise campaigns, and personalise content, it cannot replicate human creativity, intuition, or emotional intelligence—critical elements in building trust and crafting compelling brand stories.The future of marketing lies in integrating AI and human ingenuity. AI will handle data processing, trend analysis, and performance optimisation, while marketers focus on strategy, storytelling, and emotional resonance. This balance not only enhances efficiency but ensures marketing remains relatable and impactful. Businesses that embrace this hybrid approach will be well-positioned to innovate, engage, and succeed. At LS Digital, we believe the fusion of human creativity and AI insights will define the next chapter of marketing, driving growth and delivering meaningful experiences.
Venugopal Ganganna: While AI-driven marketing is transforming the industry with its advanced capabilities, I believe a hybrid model remains essential. Certain aspects of marketing still require a human touch, especially in building relationships and understanding the complexities of human emotions. While AI enhances these areas, human intuition, empathy, and creativity remain irreplaceable. Consumers increasingly value authenticity and personal connections, which often resonate more deeply through human interaction.
A hybrid model allows businesses to leverage both worlds. Creativity, storytelling, and relationship-building provide the emotional depth and brand personality consumers connect with, while AI excels at data management, actionable insights, and strategy optimization. The true power lies in their synergy—driving innovation, enhancing engagement, and ensuring lasting success. It’s not about AI replacing traditional methods but about coexistence and collaboration to achieve extraordinary results.
