- Q: There's a lot of discussion about AI transforming the way we work. What does it mean for R&D?
Whenever people talk about AI, the conversation often turns to whether technology will replace human expertise. I see it differently.
For me, AI is at its best when it helps scientists do what they do best. Innovation has always been driven by curiosity, creativity and scientific judgement. AI can help us process information faster, spot patterns more quickly and make better-informed decisions, but it doesn't replace the human ability to ask the right questions or imagine what comes next.
The real opportunity is not replacing scientists. It's amplifying their ability to create superior innovation.
Take product development, for example. AI can analyse large volumes of formulation, consumer and competitive data, identify patterns and suggest promising possibilities much faster than traditional approaches. But data alone isn't enough. Scientists still need to interpret what those patterns mean, identify non-obvious connections and decide which opportunities are worth pursuing. That's where human judgement remains irreplaceable.
- Q: How are you putting that thinking into practice?
We're building an end-to-end AI-powered innovation ecosystem that brings together consumer understanding, product design, pack development and claims compliance into one connected workflow.
Innovation has traditionally involved multiple stages that happen one after another. Our ambition is to create a system where insights flow seamlessly across the process, helping teams learn, adapt and make decisions faster.
Instead of treating AI as a standalone tool, we're working towards making digital intelligence available at every important decision point across the innovation journey. That allows teams to test ideas earlier, learn faster and move forward with greater confidence.
- Q: What does that ecosystem look like in practice?
It starts with understanding consumers.
We use an AI-powered consumer and marketing intelligence platform to uncover unmet needs, emerging trends and opportunity spaces. It helps connect consumer mindsets, actions and outcomes, revealing opportunity areas that might otherwise be missed.
Those insights can then flow into an AI-powered product design capability that brings together consumer, competitive and scientific signals to support stronger innovation decisions. By connecting multiple sources of intelligence, it helps teams make more informed choices much earlier in the development process.
We're also developing an AI capability designed to connect scientific thinking with branded storytelling, helping translate science into consumer-relevant narratives.
When it comes to pack development, AI-enabled design tools help rapidly convert concepts into testable 3D prototypes. In some cases, teams can visualise a pack concept within 24 hours, allowing them to explore more options before moving into physical development.
AI is also helping bring regulatory, legal and claims considerations much earlier into the development process. Rather than thinking about compliance at the end, we're looking to build it in from the start.
- Q: You've been closely involved in strengthening HUL's R&D capabilities. What has that journey been like?
One of the most exciting aspects has been connecting global capabilities with local needs.
We've been working to bring global AI platforms closer to our innovation teams in India, while also championing solutions that reflect the realities of Indian consumers and the local regulatory environment.
India is a unique market, and those nuances matter. Bringing together global expertise with locally relevant innovation creates a much stronger ecosystem and helps us build solutions that are both scalable and meaningful in the markets we serve.
- Q: What impact are you seeing so far?
We're already seeing promising signs of what's possible.
By connecting different parts of the innovation process and enabling faster decision-making, these capabilities have the potential to accelerate key innovation activities by up to five times. They can also help reduce development risk, drive significant cost avoidance and create scalable capabilities that can be leveraged across business groups.
But beyond the numbers, what excites me most is how these tools help scientists learn faster, design better, validate earlier and spend more time on creating, experimenting and solving problems for consumers.
- Q: Looking ahead, how do you see the future of R&D evolving?
I don't think the future will be defined by people or algorithms alone.
The most exciting breakthroughs will come from combining the strengths of both. AI can help us navigate complexity, process information at scale and move faster. Scientists bring creativity, context, imagination and judgement.
When those capabilities come together, innovation becomes faster, smarter and more impactful.
That's what the future of R&D looks like to me: not humans versus AI, but human ingenuity amplified by AI.
Frequently asked questions
Will AI replace scientists in research and development?
AI will not replace scientists. Instead, it amplifies what scientists do best. Innovation has always been driven by curiosity, creativity and scientific judgement — qualities that AI cannot replicate. AI helps researchers process information faster, identify patterns and make better-informed decisions, but human judgement remains irreplaceable when it comes to asking the right questions, interpreting data and imagining what comes next.
How does Hindustan Unilever use AI in its R&D?
HUL is building an end-to-end AI-powered innovation ecosystem that connects consumer understanding, product design, pack development and claims compliance into one integrated workflow. This includes AI-powered consumer and marketing intelligence platforms, product design capabilities that combine consumer, competitive and scientific signals, and rapid 3D prototyping tools that can turn a pack concept into a testable prototype in as little as 24 hours.
What is an AI-powered innovation ecosystem?
An AI-powered innovation ecosystem is an integrated system where digital intelligence is available at every key decision point across the product development journey. Rather than using AI as a standalone tool at one stage, insights flow seamlessly from consumer understanding through to product design, packaging and regulatory compliance — helping teams test ideas earlier, learn faster and move forward with greater confidence.
How does AI help with regulatory and claims compliance in product development?
Traditionally, regulatory, legal and claims considerations were addressed at the end of the development process. AI capabilities are now being used to bring compliance thinking much earlier into the innovation journey, embedding it from the start rather than treating it as a final hurdle. This reduces development risk and helps teams move into production with greater certainty.