GenAI will reach about 51% of US internet users by 2029 as growth stabilizes, with search dominating use cases and Gen Z leading adoption. Amid rising competition from Google and others, ChatGPT will maintain dominance. Brands must adapt to AI-mediated customer relationships.

The news: Perplexity is in talks with smartphone manufacturers to make its new Comet browser a default app on smartphones to drive adoption and user engagement, per Reuters. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas said it aims to reach “tens to hundreds of millions” of users in 2026 after a desktop rollout to a “few hundred thousand” testers, a plan that could be aided by expanding Comet access on phones. Our take: While Comet itself is a browser, its integrations with Perplexity’s AI could streamline access to mobile AI search tools, changing mobile search behavior and forcing marketers to rethink traditional search marketing practices. Getting Comet onto phones could also supercharge Perplexity’s data on user behavior and boost its ability to improve its AI search tools.

The news: ByteDance is working on lightweight mixed-reality goggles that could directly challenge Meta’s products, per The Information. Our take: If ByteDance can leverage its content ecosystem, creator network, and powerful algorithm, it could carve out a foothold with younger, social media–savvy users. Brands could sponsor AR lenses and place products within digital overlays to turn everyday activities into shoppable moments.

The news: Samsung is exploring innovative new wearable formats, including smart jewelry. Won-joon Choi, Samsung’s COO of mobile experience, told CNN that AI advancements could power a “new wave” of devices beyond the smartphone. “We believe it should be wearable, something (that) you don’t need to carry. … It could be something that you wear: glasses, earrings, watches, rings, and sometimes (a) necklace,” Choi said. Our take: As the shift toward hands-free, voice-first wearables accelerates, companies should start building applications designed for screenless experiences like voice-driven customer service tools, workforce productivity assistants, or sponsored fitness programs.

The news: Samsung’s just released Galaxy Watch 8 series comes equipped with new health and wellness features for sleep, stress, and activity. Our take: Samsung’s new features (e.g., antioxidant measuring, vascular load) are too niche to move the needle in consumer adoption. Health wearable players should lean into product capabilities that easily integrate with smartphone apps and that aren’t overly complex or clinical, such as chatbots delivering personalized recommendations based on user activity, exercise, and nutrition data.

As Vision Pro stumbles, Apple is plotting a comeback with AI-ready, fashion-forward glasses—powered by custom chips and its unbeatable dev ecosystem.

Internet adoption in Asia-Pacific will rise from 65.8% in 2025 to 70.2% in 2030, thanks to rapidly expanding infrastructure—particularly in the Philippines, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. But parts of the region are still lagging.

Control of the world’s top browser would give OpenAI data, default status, and an AI-native edge to rival Google in the search war.

Perplexity eyes smartphone deals to challenge Google’s mobile search dominance: With Motorola on board and Samsung talks underway, Perplexity’s AI could replace Google Gemini on Android phones

Leaning on Samsung’s display tech, Apple’s $2,000 foldable may bridge device types but risks flopping if consumers see it as an overpriced gimmick.

Wearables will surpass 100 million users this year as AI advancements push adoption to nearly 40% of adults, marking a shift from niche tech to mainstream.

The explosion of softPOS is reshaping the POS landscape and forcing hardware and software providers to pivot

Honor will invest $10 billion to shift from smartphones to AI devices, betting on agentic AI and industry partnerships to compete with Apple, Google, and Samsung.

Its partnership with Perplexity aims to create an action-oriented AI smartphone, but market competition and questionable demand makes this a risky venture.

US smart wearable users will surge past 100 million by 2025 as AI capabilities drive adoption. Generational preferences, device convergence, and rising form factors like smart glasses and rings will reshape the market through 2028.

US President Donald Trump’s shifting trade policies will have ramifications for US brands that do business with Latin America. This FAQ addresses the most pressing questions for companies as they navigate new tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and the potential rise of new competitors.

The Blackberry-esque device offers an e-ink display and physical keyboard but faces delays and a lack of FCC approval.

Existing home sales fell to the lowest level since 1995 last year: Conditions likely won’t improve much this year, which could spell trouble for housing-related retailers.

As Samsung and Google develop mixed-reality glasses, Apple and Meta refine their ecosystems. Cheaper, lighter devices could finally push AR/VR into the mainstream.

This year's Consumer Entertainment Show (CES) featured a number of innovations targeted at retailers and the rapidly growing category of retail media. From innovations in shoppable TV to the expansion of AI usage, here are some prominent retail products found at CES 2025.