The research and technology landscape is transforming rapidly. This conversation captures the shifts that matter most: major industry conferences offering career-defining opportunities, AI-powered devices reshaping consumer behavior, and OpenAI's pivot toward audio-first interfaces that could make screens obsolete.

Three seismic changes stand out—the data revolution turning retailers into intelligence platforms, health tech breakthroughs democratizing personal wellness, and market consolidations signaling that automation and AI aren't just trends, they're the new foundation of competitive advantage.

AI is reshaping business faster than many predicted, but not always in expected ways. This year-end recap explores the paradoxes that emerged as automation took hold: shoppers guided by AI are 30% more likely to buy, yet data quality scandals threaten to undermine trust in these systems. Research professionals gain unprecedented efficiency while worrying about eroding standards. Most surprising? As AI handles more routine work, demand for human storytellers is surging—with tech companies paying premium salaries for authentic narratives in an automated world.

From P&G's AI factory to new marketplace dynamics that could reshape the internet, we examine what actually worked, what failed, and why the human element matters more than ever.

Market research is undergoing its most dramatic transformation in decades—and the changes are accelerating. Major consultancies are pouring money into AI-powered research platforms that blend synthetic personas with real user data. Startups are racing to solve problems that didn't exist a year ago, like preventing AI agents from contaminating survey samples.

Traditional surveys are giving way to behavioral analytics that predict consumer decisions with unprecedented accuracy. And as barriers to entry collapse with each new AI advancement, companies face a critical question: Can their teams adapt fast enough?