Global Scans · Lifestyles · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Digital lifestyles are on the rise around the world and AR and VR will likely see us all using wearables, head-mounted displays and smartphones in almost everything we do. And, most of us will be living in cities too with full amenities close by.

• [New] While competitors focus primarily on hardware refinements, Google's proven AI capabilities could transform foldables from impressive tech demos into genuinely intelligent productivity tools that adapt to user behaviour and optimize experiences dynamically. Gadget Hacks
• [New] The Middle East & Africa region is at an earlier stage of development in pregnancy care products but is characterised by growing healthcare investment, rising maternal-wellness initiatives and generational shifts in consumer behaviour-making it a meaningful mid-term opportunity for brands. ReAnIn
• [New] Vintage fashion shopping along with renting certain fashion items will be huge trends in 2026 and all will be worn with 2026 fashion extras. Sharp Eye
• [New] 60% of brands will use agentic AI for one-to-one interactions by 2028 - and a majority of consumers expect to use AI agents for shopping in the next 12 months. Marketing Agent Blog
• [New] 2026 will be a milestone moment in the evolution of AI commerce as consumers seek accessible ways to address their shopping and product consumption needs. Circana
• [New] With the continued shift towards digital shopping, online stores are expected to maintain a significant role in the distribution of millet products worldwide. Bonafide Research
• [New] In the US, the EPA's proposed Renewable Fuel Standard overhaul will redefine how renewable volume obligations work, slashing credit eligibility for imported fuels and introducing new equivalence values. Biofuels International
• [New] In 2026, we can expect the use of experiential marketing to skyrocket as technology adoption and consumer behaviour change. Factory 360
• [New] By 2030, a significant percentage of weekly household shopping and other routine spending will be done AI agent to AI agent - Amazon's Rufus working with your ChatGPT, for example, no humans involved. Sharp Eye
• [New] In 2026 AI is going to be used for shopping more than it ever has been. Sharp Eye
• [New] Shield's 2026 Compliance Outlook sets a clear premise: in 2026, compliance will not be judged by intent but by evidence, with regulators looking at data integrity, employee behaviour, system architecture, and vendor relationships as a connected control picture. A-Team
• [New] In 2026, the competitive edge will go to employers who can integrate AI technologies into their processes and offer flexible employment formats adapted to a person's lifestyle, rather than the other way around. Morningstar, Inc.
• [New] While e-commerce continues to grow at a faster pace than brick & mortar, around 80% of all shopping still takes place in a physical store; even by 2030, Kantar forecasts that stores will maintain a 76% share of sales. Greenhouse Grower
• [New] For a second consecutive year, DCG expects price sensitivity to shape holistic consumer behaviour throughout 2026, even as top-line economic indicators remain relatively healthy. Yahoo Finance
• [New] In 2026, paying for goods and services has become an almost invisible part of daily life; you expect transactions to be quick, predictable and free from friction, no matter if you are shopping online or standing at a till. Retail Bulletin | Daily UK Retail News
• [New] In the fast moving digital marketing landscape, by 2026, marketers and brands will be challenged by new challenges, both in the form of AI-driven algorithms and shifting consumer behaviour, as well as increased expectations of privacy. Elite Site Optimizer
• [New] In 2026, AI-supported systems will continue to become more accessible to kitchens of all sizes, offering chefs new capabilities to streamline operations, reduce waste, and analyse consumer behaviour with greater accuracy. CLH News: Caterer, Licensee and Hotelier News - News fo
• [New] With Mastercard Agent Suite customers will be able to build, test, and deploy fit-for-purpose customizable agents, embedding intelligent product discovery for banks and blending personalization with conversational shopping for merchants. FinExtra
• [New] Behaviour shift: 70% of employees expect 30% + of their work to be affected by gen AI within two years, highlighting broad, worker-level expectations of task change. G2
• [New] AI agent-based shopping could increase e-commerce penetration and ultimately level the playing field for brands. Morning Brew
• [New] By 2050, AI systems will be indistinguishable from humans in terms of personality, emotion, and behaviour. Ravensbourne University London
• [New] Optimus really will be a general-purpose robot that can learn by observing human behaviour. TESLARATI

Last updated: 12 February 2026