Beyond the Hype: Applying AI Strategically Without Losing the Human Connection

Episode notes

AI is everywhere — but is it actually making products better? In this episode of Beyond Product Management , Heather Miller sits down with Andy Sitison , a technologist, lifelong creator, and product builder with 35+ years of experience working at the intersection of emerging technology, human experience, and product development. Together, they unpack what it really means to use AI well — not as a shiny feature or market grab, but as a strategic tool that helps product teams deeply understand their users without sacrificing usability, trust, or human connection. Andy shares how his team uses AI to analyze long-form customer stories (not surveys) to uncover motivations, emotional patterns, and unmet needs — and why asking better questions matters more than generating faster answers. This conversation is a must-listen for product leaders who are tired of “AI for AI’s sake” and want to build products that actually serve people.