The Modern Retail Podcast The Modern Retail Podcast's 2026 predictions
Jan 3, 2026
The future of retail is heating up! AI is set to revolutionize shopping, focusing on price comparison and improved customer service. Meanwhile, the creator economy is booming, with brands investing heavily in influencer partnerships, shifting ad budgets from traditional channels. Expect to see new social commerce strategies, especially on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Plus, M&A activity will ramp up, with brands like Olipop and AG1 potentially eyeing acquisitions. The landscape of retail promises exciting changes ahead!
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Episode notes
AI Used More For Utility Than Styling
- Consumers will increasingly use AI for price comparison and review scouring rather than style or gift discovery.
- Anna Hensel predicts utility-driven AI shopping will outpace personalized style recommendations in 2026.
Brands Will Embed AI Into Their Sites
- Retailers are embedding AI into customer journeys and on-site tools, not just relying on external chat engines.
- Melissa Daniels expects customer-service AI and on-site shopping assistants to scale significantly in 2026.
AI Platforms Racing Into Checkout
- Major AI platforms are racing into commerce with features like instant checkout and retailer shopping apps.
- Anna Hensel highlighted OpenAI's instant checkout and shopping partnerships as signals of rapid change.