Consumer Insights Leadership Debate
Should you buy
or build AI for insights?
or build AI for insights?
Two senior CPG executives. Two opposing views. One decision that will define your insights strategy for the next decade.
The Debate
Arguing: Build
James Cummings
SVP, Consumer Insights
& Analytics
& Analytics
Kenvue (formerly J&J)
Proprietary AI built on your data creates durable competitive advantage. When you build, you own the model, the methodology, and the moat.
Arguing: Buy
Vijay Raj
EVP, Consumer & Market
Intelligence
Intelligence
Unilever
Speed to insight is the only advantage that matters. Best-in-class platforms deploy in weeks, not years — and you capture the ROI while your competitors are still recruiting ML engineers.
Moderator & Host
Trevor Sumner
CEO, i-Genie.ai, Former Founder, Investor, Advisor
What you’ll walk away with
- A 5-question framework to evaluate buy vs. build for any AI insights use case at your company
- Real cost models: what it actually takes to build and maintain proprietary AI vs. SaaS — with examples from Kenvue and Unilever
- When hybrid models win — and the specific conditions that make them work in CPG
- How to make the case to your CFO and CTO, whichever path you choose
- Live Q&A with both executives — ask the questions your internal team is already debating
🔴 Online Event
Watch the debate
— now
No spam. Replay link emailed after the event.
Agenda
The Case for Build
James Cummings lays out why Kenvue invested in proprietary AI infrastructure — covering data ownership, institutional knowledge, and long-term differentiation.
1
The Case for Buy
Vijay Raj makes the counter-argument: why Unilever leans into best-in-class platforms, the speed advantage, and how to evaluate vendors without getting burned.
2
Live Q&A + Framework
Trevor Sumner moderates audience questions and synthesizes a practical decision framework you can bring back to your team the same day.
3
