Our analysts (or “bakers”) compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing why Google may overtake OpenAI in 2026 and how the AI boom could get a reality check this year. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Principal Analyst Nate Elliot and Analyst Jacob Bourne. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Even if tariffs ease, their effects on consumer behavior will linger into 2026, redefining how consumers evaluate value, loyalty, and where they spend.
AI search advertising is growing, but lingering problems mean overindexing risks wasted spend before ad formats mature.
They have a litany of troubles and aggressive cost targets.
FIs need to pull consumers through a wave of uncertainty.
Equal credit access rules weren’t designed for modern underwriting technology.
This FAQ explains how data clean rooms have become essential infrastructure for retail media, enabling privacy-safe data collaboration, closed-loop measurement, and proof of performance as ad spend grows and marketers demand greater accountability.
China’s ad rebound remains narrow; Q4 spending stabilized, but concentrated in low-risk, performance-driven channels—signaling a cautious market entering 2026.
Wellness is now a full-year play, not just a January focus.
Creator programs become table stakes: Pacsun and David’s Bridal are the latest retailers to rely on social commerce and user-generated buzz to boost sales.
Beijing’s crackdown on ecommerce price wars could put an end to excessive discounts, but demand remains weak.
This FAQ addresses how retail media works, who the major players are, and what marketers should consider when allocating budgets.
Neighborhood Rewards hit physical stores, eyeing loyalty from Gen Z and millennial renters.
As software standardizes, AI features emerge as key differentiators for survival-focused SMBs.
Opt-in discoverability could lock in younger, AI-curious shoppers early.
Legal and political pressure is rising, but shaken consumer confidence may be harder to fix.
Weight and health improvements vanish within two years without sustained use, new research finds.
Walmart’s low-risk online health hub could funnel customers to retail and pharmacy without the heavy overhead of primary care.