Research the needs, not the roadmap with Preeti Talwai
September 8, 2026
Researching products that do not yet exist requires looking beyond the technology itself. In this episode of The Curiosity Current, UX Research Leader and Product Strategy Advisor, Preeti Talwai, discusses how researchers can anchor early-stage work in enduring human needs, separate the experience from the technology enabling it, and measure impact even when a product never launches. She also shares why AI should augment rather than shortcut qualitative research and how teams can move faster by changing the way insights are delivered.
In this episode of The Curiosity Current, Stephanie Vance and Molly Strawn-Carreño sit down with Preeti Talwai to dive into the world of human-led anticipatory research. Being an advisor to technology development companies, Preeti’s love for research has contributed to the humanization of tools like Google Gemini. She shares how her architecture background drives her natural understanding of human needs.
Preeti emphasizes the importance of focusing on fundamental human needs rather than reactions to existing products. Humans have existed and had needs long before AI emerged. So, rather than develop AI as a technical achievement, tools should feel more human-driven, with thought and intentionality even before the prototypes exist. Preeti shares why we should think about AI as a material and not a solution to every problem.
She simplifies the practical framework for research on new technology, suggesting small digestible insights beginning with low-confidence deliverables before building up to workshops and activation playbooks. She calls this the ‘Sushi Conveyor Belt’ model for delivering insights. Ultimately, Preeti’s view is clear, research should be done in bite-size pieces and depth should be prioritized over speed.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to anchor research when the product does not exist yet
- Why human needs should drive research and development of new AI
- How to break down research processes into small bite-sized chunks using the ‘Sushi Conveyor Belt’ method
- How the impact of a new product can be measured even before it is launched
- Why depth in research should be prioritized over the length of time it takes to release a product
- How AI can be better harnessed when it is seen as a material and not a tool
About the Guest:
Preeti Talwai is a UX Research Leader and Product Strategy Advisor specializing in human-centered AI, emerging technology, and early-stage product development. During more than nine years at Google, she led research across AI-driven products, including Search, Shopping Ads, YouTube Ads, and Gemini-related work. Today, she advises organizations on product strategy and helps teams connect new technological capabilities with enduring human needs.
Episode Resources:
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