63% of US AI search users turn to AI assistants to answer a question directly, according to a May survey from YouGov.
In today’s podcast episode, we discuss how using AI could actually hurt a brand’s reputation, when consumers may feel deceived if they discover AI was involved, and the kinds of AI use people are most likely to find offensive. Are we entering a world where the question isn’t “Can AI do this?” but “Will our customers think less of us if they know we used AI to do it?” Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Analyst Grace Harmon and Senior Analyst Asa Hiken. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.
In August 2026, we analyzed 11,250 ChatGPT responses across 23 retail store categories to compile the AI Visibility Index.
AI is changing more than how consumers discover brands. It is forcing retailers and marketers to reconsider the role of their websites, how they connect advertising to business outcomes, and whether the digital experiences they own can compete with the leading AI chatbots.
Vertical video has moved from social-feed novelty to full-funnel engagement infrastructure for streaming services and social commerce platforms. Vertical video's expansion beyond social feeds into streaming apps and shoppable commerce has made it a standard format in the competition for attention. That opportunity also brings considerable challenges.
AI health use is influencing care decisions and health product purchases. Structured pricing, availability, and eligibility data can help brands surface in AI results.
Local inventory data can sharpen media allocation when paired with pricing, shopper, and retailer insights.
Replacing physical wallets and now keychains can deepen engagement and give providers more user insights.
Being an early mover personal finance app/LLM integrations gives Experian an early opening to shape AI discovery.
Some 69% of US consumers plan to use AI while shopping this holiday season, according to Impact. Finding deals, comparing prices, and summarizing promotions tied as the top use cases. Shoppers also plan to use AI for product recommendations, review summaries, and local inventory checks.
"If you do not have a gaming strategy, it's clearly too big to ignore now," Charles Hambro, CEO and co-founder of GEEIQ, said at EMARKETER's Future of Digital summit last week. "But you should not get bamboozled by 'Oh my god, we're gonna build unbelievable worlds.' Be very, very self-disciplined with regards to what are my CPMs for this audience." Nearly 60% of US consumers will be digital gamers this year, according to EMARKETER's forecast, yet only 2.4% of total digital ad spend in 2026 will go to gaming. It's a delta that represents both a significant opportunity and a cautionary tale for marketers who rush in without proper measurement frameworks.
Insurers say AI coding raises healthcare costs. Both hospitals and payers are using AI to protect margins, while systemwide savings remain elusive.
AI shopping agents are becoming a bigger part of how consumers discover and compare products. As the holiday season approaches, brands are rethinking how product information needs to work for AI as well as human shoppers.
New reporting traces search ad delivery, but marketers still need strong data and human oversight.
Walmart, Sephora, and other partnerships let users delegate shopping, testing their willingness to hand AI more control.
Retailers must offer terms that limit costs without making high spenders abandon the purchase.
Synced business details can capture high-intent shoppers as search fragments across maps and AI.
Although traditional ads build trust, digital formats now influence 42% of purchases for those 55 and older.
Contextual targeting can help justify streaming spend when paired with post-bid performance data.
Realize ID can clarify fragmented journeys, but blind spots in major AI platforms limit its reach.