This FAQ covers how consumers and marketers are adapting to generative AI, the risks that accompany its growth, and what strategies brands should prioritize in 2026.

AI is reshaping how people discover, evaluate, and buy products. As assistants and emerging agents take on more of the shopping journey, retailers must rethink how they surface products and compete for influence in the purchase journey.

OpenAI brings ads to all US free users, but manual buys, thin metrics, and $200K tests cloud ROI.

Teenagers today are digital natives in the truest sense, but their digital lives reveal surprising nuances about device preferences, social spaces, and emerging technologies that marketers need to understand.

Social teams are rethinking YouTube as Shorts surges, both long-form and episodic content gain traction, and generative search reshapes discovery. But legacy silos and cost concerns still hold many back, even as audiences and creators are leaning in.

Consumers are shopping with AI assistants on retailer sites and through third-party chatbots like ChatGPT and Perplexity, and retailers are paying attention.

AI is reshaping how consumers in Canada search, shop, and spend time with media. As digital adoption deepens, brands, publishers, and retailers face the need to adapt to AI-driven discovery and commerce, or risk losing out in a rapidly changing market.

AI prep is changing visits, with doctors wary of misinformation but optimistic about patient education.

The AI portal ties health records and wearables together as daily health conversations top 50 million.

More integrations can enable more sophisticated results, but banks have a lot of problems to solve before they can take full advantage.

Criteo bets on ChatGPT commerce in a pitch deck as its new ad pilot promises fast setup and measurable AI traffic.

Consumer interest in chatbot-based checkout isn’t quite there, but AI-based discovery is on the rise.

As early movers launch ads within OpenAI's ChatGPT, they're closely watching how consumers interact with their campaigns and where this emerging channel fits within broader strategies. “Investment in technology and AI…goes hand-in-hand with great experience,” said Target CEO Michael Fiddelke, at the retailer’s 2026 Financial Community Meeting. “We know those tech investments pay off with stronger experience, whether that's digital or whether that's in-store.”

The company is shifting tactics as users prefer to purchase on retail sites rather than in chatbots.

To capture a share of limited holiday gains, retailers and brands must zero in on pockets of opportunity across mobile commerce, social platforms, and consumer adoption of AI for shopping.

High-margin ads, more third-party sellers, and investments in fulfillment and loyalty are set to drive growth in 2026.

OpenAI is adding Criteo to its US ad pilot, seeking credibility and demand despite steep CPMs and thin proof.