“The more our lives are lubricated by intelligence, the more we’ll crave humanity.”

As artificial intelligence reshapes how we live, work, and buy, one question matters more than ever: what happens to the human experience?

In this episode, Hamza Idris is joined by Howard Saunders, one of the UK’s leading retail futurists, to explore the future of commerce, creativity, and connection in an AI-driven world.

Howard brings decades of insight from retail design, trend-hunting, and global brand strategy to unpack how AI is changing not just technology, but behaviour, expectation, and culture.

This is not a fear-driven conversation.

It’s about perspective.

Creativity.

And why human connection may become our most valuable currency.

🔑 What you’ll take from this episode:

• Why AI is a platform, not just a tool

• How retail is shifting from products to stories

• The future of immersive and experience-led commerce

• Why creativity is becoming more accessible than ever

• How AI may “lubricate” daily life for better and worse

• Why human warmth, presence, and honesty will matter more, not less

• What businesses and individuals must understand to stay relevant

⏱️ Episode Chapters:

00:00 Retail as storytelling and immersive experience

00:36 Welcome and introduction to Howard Saunders

03:21 Howard’s journey into design, retail, and futurism

07:00 What retail design really means for people

10:13 AI as a platform, not just a tool

12:50 Creativity, fear, and embracing technological change

15:00 AI, content creation, and creative freedom

19:00 Immersive futures and experience-led commerce

23:51 AI, personal data, and “lubricated” daily life

29:02 Why retail still doesn’t truly know its customers

30:42 Cities, flagship spaces, and the future of high streets

34:52 Human connection as future currency

40:41 What leaders and businesses must understand now

46:34 Career pivots, contrarian thinking, and fulfilment

53:59 Final advice to the modern man

#modernmanpodcast #artificialintelligence #humanconnection #futureofcommerce #retailfuturist #technologyandsociety #creativityandai #modernmasculinity #futurethinking

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