Everyone is talking about AI. Every product is announcing an AI strategy. But underneath the noise, a quieter question keeps surfacing for founders and leaders: are we actually getting value from this, or are we just spending on it? In this BizBlend conversation, Sana sits with Vikram Chalana, Co-Founder and CEO of Pictory, to separate genuine AI value from FOMO-driven adoption.

If you've ever felt the pressure to move faster on AI but weren't sure where to start, this episode is a grounded reset. Vikram shares what most businesses get wrong about AI adoption, why discipline and clarity matter more than urgency, where AI still struggles, and the simple founder principle that protects you from chasing every shift: fall in love with the problem, not the solution.

About the Guest:

Vikram Chalana is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pictory, one of the fastest-growing AI video platforms in the world, ranked #616 on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list and #19 in the AI and Data category. He has been working in AI for over three decades, from his PhD research to enterprise software and now generative AI, and previously co-founded Winshuttle, an enterprise software company.

Key Takeaways:

AI isn't a 2022 phenomenon. It has moved through multiple waves of excitement and quiet over the last three decades, and the current ChatGPT era is one chapter, not the whole story.
Most businesses adopt AI without a clear business outcome. Without a defined goal — save time, make money, create content faster — adoption stalls and people churn.
Hidden adoption is a leadership problem. When teams use AI quietly because nobody set the expectation to share it, you lose the compounding value of best practices.
AI still struggles with exception handling. In finance, accounting, and other regulated, rule-heavy work, the technology gap is real and worth respecting.
Building is no longer the hard part. Demand creation and reaching the right audience remain the toughest challenge for any founder.
Fall in love with the problem, not your solution. The why stays steady even when the who and the how change.
Perfect is the enemy of good. Real-world feedback is the only signal that matters, so launch before it feels ready.

Connect With Vikram Chalana:

LinkedIn: Vikram Chalana
Website: pictory.ai

Episode Chapters:

[00:00] Cold Open — Adopting AI vs building with AI, the difference that matters

[03:57] Meet Vikram Chalana — 30 years in AI, before ChatGPT made it a household word

[06:54] AI Didn't Start With ChatGPT — A quick history of the waves

[09:50] What Most Businesses Get Wrong About AI Value

[12:42] Leadership vs Technology — Why hidden AI use is a culture problem (approx.)

[16:50] Where AI Still Falls Short — Exception handling, finance, compliance (approx.)

[20:30] The Real Startup Challenge — Demand creation, not building (approx.)

[31:30] Staying Anchored When the Ground Keeps Shifting — Meditation, instincts, and the why (approx.)

[36:00] One Message for Leaders Sitting With AI Uncertainty

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