Mars Released Research on Future Shopping Trends
New findings highlight a massive shift toward AI-driven commerce and personalized digital shopping experiences.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Shopping — General
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Mars has released new research examining 180,000 global data signals to forecast the future of consumer behavior. The report suggests that AI, social media integration, and immersive spaces are fundamentally altering how people shop.
Why it matters
Consumers are increasingly demanding effortless, personal, and experiential shopping processes. These technological shifts are forcing brands to rethink their digital strategies to meet evolving expectations for convenience.
AI referrals to e-commerce brands grew by 752% during the 2025 holiday season, while immersive brand spaces currently show 15.3% year-over-year growth. Additionally, 39% of consumers expect personalized online experiences.
The players
Mars
Mars is a global manufacturer of confectionery, food, and pet care products that also conducts consumer behavior research.
Kantar
Kantar is a professional services firm specializing in data, insights, and consulting for brand and consumer strategy.
Synthesis
Synthesis is a data analytics firm that partnered with Mars and Kantar to examine global consumer data signals.
The details
The research indicates that shopping is moving into social media, gaming, and streaming platforms, with 22% of U.S. digital buyers already using livestreams. AI-powered systems are expected to drive these changes by making automatic purchasing and restocking suggestions based on individual user habits.
Timeline
AI referrals spiked by 752% during the 2025 holiday season.
Mobile health and wellness apps are projected to see 15% annual growth through 2030.
AI-driven commerce is expected to reach $788 billion in value by 2035.
Culture Shift
The transition toward AI-driven purchasing mirrors the broader shift from legacy retail browsing to integrated digital ecosystems. This evolution reflects the increasing influence of personalized social media algorithms on everyday consumer habits.
Shoppers can expect increasingly personalized product recommendations and more frequent automated restock suggestions from their favorite brands. These digital enhancements aim to reduce the time spent on manual purchasing tasks for routine household inventory.
The takeaway
The future of shopping is increasingly automated and integrated into existing social media and streaming platforms. Consumers should prepare for a landscape where AI anticipates needs before they are explicitly expressed.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolution of the retail industry by visiting our Shopping — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WRNJ Radio.
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Do you trust that AI-driven shopping will make your life easier?
