How OBI Built a Lean, High-Impact AI Function That Scales

Jan 14, 2026

Kris Peeters & Dr. Ruth Janning

How OBI builds high-impact AI use cases : From GenAI realism to team structure, impact-first use cases, and avoiding the hype.

In this episode of The Data Playbook, we sit down with Dr. Ruth Janning, Head of Data Science & AI at OBI, to talk about what actually drives AI impact in real organisations.

We break down:

  • Why GenAI hype leads teams in the wrong direction

  • How to choose between ML, GenAI and agentic AI

  • Real-world retail AI use cases (recommendations, assortment, automation)

  • How a 10-person team delivers outsized business value

  • AI governance, self-service, templates & AI ambassadors



🎧 Listen to more episodes of The Data Playbook for real-world stories on data platforms, GenAI, data products and cloud independence from Europe’s leading data practitioners and leaders.

🌐 More at our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxi05zIoV9bm69OAUmRoUDQ?sub_confirmation=1

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How OBI Built a Lean, High-Impact AI Function That Scales

How OBI builds high-impact AI use cases : From GenAI realism to team structure, impact-first use cases, and avoiding the hype.

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Boomgaardstraat 115, 2018 Antwerpen


Vat. BE.0667.976.246

© 2025 Dataminded. All rights reserved.


Belgium

Vismarkt 17, 3000 Leuven - HQ
Boomgaardstraat 115, 2018 Antwerpen

Vat. BE.0667.976.246

© 2025 Dataminded. All rights reserved.


Belgium

Vismarkt 17, 3000 Leuven - HQ
Boomgaardstraat 115, 2018 Antwerpen

Vat. BE.0667.976.246

© 2025 Dataminded. All rights reserved.