#79 Beauty and the bot: How AI is helping L’Oréal make better products, faster
AI is no longer just a buzzword – it’s fast becoming a core part of how businesses operate, innovate, and grow. But with so much hype, where do the real opportunities lie? And how do you separate practical value from overpromise?
In this episode, Tom sits down with Oday Abbosh, Senior Partner at IBM, to unpack how artificial intelligence is being used to genuinely transform business – from product development and customer service to complex challenges like supply chain resilience and material discovery.
We hear how IBM’s partnership with L’Oréal is helping the beauty giant rethink how it formulates new products using generative AI – and what that says about the future of research and innovation. We also dig into how businesses can adopt AI responsibly: with the right data, the right use case, and the right mindset.
Oday offers candid insights into:
The biggest misconceptions about AI in business
How to get started if you’re a small or mid-sized company
Why AI’s environmental footprint matters – and what can be done about it
The role of governance, ethics, and transparency in building trust
Whether you’re just exploring AI or already running pilots, this conversation is packed with practical advice and honest reflections on what it takes to make AI work for good.
“One of the biggest misconceptions? That AI is a plug-and-play solution. It’s not. It’s a learning journey – for people, systems, and organisations.”
You might also enjoy…
#83 Carbon is not the enemy: Step inside Interface’s innovation engine
What does it really take to hit net zero – and stay there? For global carpet tile manufacturer Interface, the answer lies in a deep-rooted culture of innovation.
In this episode, Tom sits down with Luca Achilli, Global Innovation & Sustainability Projects Director at Interface, to explore how the company is using design, R&D, and circular thinking to lead the charge toward carbon-negative products.
They discuss:
Why innovation is essential to achieving real emissions reductions
The future of carbon as a raw material
How Interface is embedding sustainability into product development
What it takes to shift from offsetting to genuine impact
How to build a culture where breakthrough ideas can thrive
If you’re interested in product design, sustainability, or innovation – or just curious about how legacy businesses can still act like disruptors – this one’s for you.
“Carbon is a resource. We’re learning how to work with it, not just fight against it.”
You might also enjoy…
#2 Limejump, shaking up the energy market
In conversation with Erik Nygaard, co-founder of Limejump, the data platform aiming to shake up the energy market by solving the ongoing challenge of green-energy supply meeting demand.
“What we’ve built is a virtual power plant. It behaves in the same way [as a big plant]. It can respond in the same way.”
You might also enjoy…
#1 Ignitia, improving Tropical weathercasting for millions
Meet Liisa Petrykovska, CEO and founder of Ignitia, the organisation boosting the accuracy of weather forecasting in the Tropics – and the livelihoods and wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers in the process.
““Since the day we started producing the forecast in West Africa, I have met many rural farmers that have doubled their yields. This translates into 80% increase of income, which is huge for a small-scale farmer.””
You might also enjoy…