Widespread adoption of end-to-end autonomous commerce would accelerate ecommerce growth in the US and other major markets.

The ecommerce playbook is changing as AI disruptors reshape the path to purchase. In this video, Principal Analyst Sky Canaves explores how discovery, decision-making, and loyalty are evolving—and what retailers and brands must do to stay competitive.

63% of US adults say having ads in AI search results would make them trust those results less, according to a January survey from Ipsos.

AI is moving upstream, showing up earlier in the decision-making process and increasingly shaping what happens next.

Banks should control the parts of the narrative that they can.

Banks should have a crisis plan ready.

US lawmakers draft bill to revive easy-cancel rules as consumer budgets are pinched.

CEO neutrality carries brand risk; OpenAI and Anthropic leaders’ cautious political responses are an illustration of how hedging on values can erode trust rather than protect it.

Trust in consumer banking varies widely in 2026. Primary banks still anchor core products. But confidence differs by generation, product, and channel, with honesty, transparency, and security shaping how consumers evaluate financial providers.

Years of litigation over allegedly misleading marketing nears a close, but reputational damage could linger.

Consumers are integrating AI into everyday health searches as tools grow more conversational, even though output reliability remains uneven. The balance of speed, accuracy, and trust will shape how people use AI for information and care.

On today’s podcast, we will cover a few of the takes from our Top Trends to Watch in 2026 report. Our analysts (or bakers) will compete in a Great British Bake Off style episode discussing if the micro-drama craze will mint a new generation of creators with dual support from social networks and entertainment studios, and why AI’s content takeover will shake consumer trust in the internet. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Analyst Jacob Bourne and Principal Analyst Max Willens. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Old Navy wants to stand out for consumers with convenience, now offering same-day delivery on items including jeans, beanies, and dress shoes through DoorDash. “It’s a classic win-win,” said Nishith Rastogi, founder and CEO of Locus, a logistics tech provider recently acquired by IKEA parent company Ingka Group. “The retailer gets speed, and the platform gets density and stronger utilization across its network.”

Walmart, TJX, and other US retailers are deploying body cameras to combat shoplifting, harassment, and violence against staff. While the full scope of retail theft is debatable, every stolen item chips away at revenues. With tariffs and rising costs squeezing margins, retailers are testing every lever to protect the bottom line. Body cams may help—but only if they reduce loss without eroding customer trust. Retailers should exercise care in walking a fine line between safety and scrutiny.

Personalization remains one of the most reliable attention drivers, but recent data shows consumers are still uneasy about how brands achieve it. People across age groups feel more negative than positive toward personalized ads—even though they pay more attention to content that feels relevant. The result is a widening gap between consumer expectations and marketer behavior. To unlock personalization’s upside, brands must apply AI to improve relevance and transparency, not just scale output.

From short-form videos to AI-driven targeting, this report reveals how each generation assesses digital ads and whether they act upon them.