Online shopping has been due for a reprogramming for some time. In 2026, that shift will become impossible to ignore.

Shoppers won’t browse endless product pages or compare dozens of similar listings. They’ll ask AI assistants to decide. They’ll rely on cultural signals from creators and communities to validate trust. And they’ll buy from brands that surface first because algorithms determined they were the most relevant, credible, and reliable in that moment.

Our 2026 Trends & Predictions report breaks down the shifts redefining consumer behavior and competitive advantage, including:

• How AI assistants and AI Overviews are reshaping product discovery across marketplaces
• Why TikTok, community forums, and sentiment increasingly influence demand and visibility
• How retail media is becoming an always-on merchandising engine across digital and physical environments
• Why fulfillment speed, inventory health, pricing accuracy, and trust signals now influence exposure and cost
• What 1P and 3P brands must change now to remain visible as the “AI shelf” takes shape

For commerce leaders planning the next 12–18 months, this report offers clarity without hype: a grounded look at what’s changing, why it matters, and how to adapt before these shifts become default.