Welcome to The Beat’s latest drop—a playlist of perspectives from the influencers and innovators moving the needle. Here’s what’s on repeat from the voices moving culture forward:

• AI can revolutionize business efficiency and cost savings by focusing on short-term, high-complexity tasks, igniting real ROI advancements.

• To overcome its unique challenges, the cannabis industry can learn operational effectiveness and financial strategy from mature sectors like grocery stores.

• Revisiting Prohibition's lessons can guide the modern alcohol policy debate, emphasizing the need for balance and informed consumer choice.

For the uninitiated: The Beat is a free, biweekly newsletter designed for the influencers, tastemakers, and innovators in the worlds of music, entertainment, media, food & beverage, fashion, sports, gaming, and more. Each article featured below is penned by a member of Rolling Stone Culture Council, a community of influential leaders across an array of industries.

With the lineup set, let’s turn up the volume on this week’s insights.

Rethinking ROI: Unlock Real Value with AI & Emerging Technologies

In a world obsessed with the latest tech, figuring out the tangible returns from AI and emerging technologies has become a quest for many. Diving into AI isn't enough; businesses must identify high-impact areas where it boosts efficiency and reduces costs - that's where the real gold lies.

Here’s all you need to know:

🔍 Start with the Right Questions: Instead of getting lost in the "what," focus on the "should" – what should AI do for your business? Target areas where AI implementation will streamline processes, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency.

🎯 Identifying AI’s True Potential: AI excels when applied to complex tasks that require quick resolution. Pinpoint operations within your business that involve repetitive, data-heavy tasks; these are prime for AI optimization.

🔄 Understanding Task Complexity & Time Horizon: AI shines in short-term, high-complexity tasks but falls short in strategic, long-term planning. This is crucial for immediate and intricate decision-making roles, like in medical or legal professions.

🚀 Practical Steps to Start: Begin small. Identify a couple of areas where AI can make an immediate difference. Small-scale AI implementations can lead to substantial long-term benefits.

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Cannabis Connect: Drawing Parallels & Pragmatism from Grocery Giants

As the cannabis industry navigates through thickets of federal roadblocks, like banking and traditional financing, looking to established sectors such as grocery stores offers a beacon.

Leveraging long-standing industry efficiencies could spell out a blueprint for success in cannabis, emphasizing data integration, supply chain mastery, and financial acumen.

Explore key insights below:

🏪 Advanced Supply Chain Integration: Emulate deep collaboration in big-box retail companies like Amazon or Walmart. This includes everything from demand forecasting to optimizing supplier relationships, aiming to improve cash flow and reduce stockpile inefficiencies.

💵 Alleviating Financial Strains: Address the substantial payment delays that plague the cannabis industry—now a $3.8 billion issue. Learning from grocery stores, innovative practices such as real-time payment models tied to product sell-through could revolutionize financial flow.

🌿 Tech Innovation as a Lever: Given the unique challenges cannabis faces, adopting and customizing technology solutions from mature markets could be key. Utilizing platforms like CASA, which offers real-time data-driven decision tools, provides an immediate advantage in operational efficiency.

🔄 Collaborative Business Models: Move towards models like Payment on Sell Through (PoST), where retailers pay suppliers based on sales rather than upfront, easing capital strains and fostering trust among industry players.

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Revisiting Prohibition: A Rallying Cry for Modern Alcohol Policy

As whispers circulate about revisiting alcohol guidelines, echoes from the Prohibition era offer a potent reminder of past missteps.

With a history where overregulation led to soaring crime rates and economic losses, the alcohol industry stands at a pivotal junction. Today's debate isn't just about consumption; it’s a broader cultural and health discourse that demands a nuanced approach.

Check out these highlights below:

📜 Historical Echoes: The Prohibition era highlighted the dangers of overregulation, fostering a black market and societal disarray. This period of history teaches the importance of learning from past oversights to guide future policies.

🔍 Modern Scrutiny & Health Perspectives: With a panel reviewing U.S. alcohol consumption guidelines, there's a rising concern that new regulations may ignore the nuanced roles alcohol plays culturally and socially. Evidence points to the benefits of moderate drinking, adding complexity to the dialogue.

🍹 Proactive Strategies for Industry Leaders:

• Diversify Offerings: Adapt to potential changes by integrating low- and non-alcoholic options that cater to a health-conscious consumer base.

• Forge Strategic Alliances: Collaborate with peers and innovate to fortify your brand against possible stringent regulations.

• Uphold Core Values: Anchor your operations in your foundational mission, ensuring readiness to adapt while maintaining brand integrity.

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Wrapping Up

If these articles sparked your interest, we have a network that you will love: Rolling Stone Culture Council.

This exclusive, vetted community brings together influential leaders and innovators in art, media, gaming, theater, social impact, fashion, film, hospitality, sports, and more.

Put yourself at the forefront of innovation with access to publishing opportunities on RollingStone.com, a personalized, SEO-friendly Executive Profile, and the chance to network with other respected leaders in the field.

Join Rolling Stone Culture Council today and become part of a group driving innovation in entertainment.