Teaching the Human in the Loop: Why AI Can’t Replace Curiosity and Storytelling

Episode notes

In this episode of The Curiosity Current, hosts Stephanie and Tiffany talk with Marcus Cunha Jr., Robert O. Arnold Professor of Marketing and Director of the Master of Marketing Research program at the University of Georgia, about preparing the next generation of insights leaders. Drawing on real-world projects with companies like UPS and Coca-Cola, Marcus explains how the program blends academic rigor with practical experience to ensure students learn to connect insights to ROI and business impact. He shares how AI and automation are reshaping skill requirements, why curiosity, adaptability, and storytelling remain irreplaceable, and how alumni continue to rise into leadership roles across the industry. The discussion also touches on his research into how popularity shapes perceptions of expertise and how color saturation influences consumer judgments of product potency. It’s both a window into how one of the most respected programs in the field is evolving and a practical guide for turning research into a driver of strategy rather than just a source of data.