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] Results from the US POINTER Study provide encouraging evidence that lifestyle interventions can significantly improve cognitive health in older adults at risk for cognitive decline. BrightFocus Foundation
• [New] US AI companies are racing for supremacy, competing with each other and China, and rolling out AI for shopping, personal companionship and agentic systems that could slash corporate labour costs by making white-collar jobs redundant. The Guardian
• [New] Shopify merchants must anticipate future trends such as AR-assisted shopping, 3D image recognition, and real-time object detection. XD
• [New] Ignoring visual search could result in missed traffic opportunities, particularly as mobile shopping and visual-driven discovery continue to surge in 2026. XD
• [New] By 2030, we will have over one million people over the age of 65 and we want New Zealanders to retire with dignity and in a lifestyle they deserve. RNZ
• [New] Rapid growth in the use of AI chatbots and personal AI shopping agents: The concept of agentic commerce is developing swiftly, which is why retail analysts forecast that by 2026, one in four shoppers will rely on AI-driven chatbots when shopping. InData Labs
• [New] 2026 will mark a shift in traditional online shopping for pet owners. PetfoodIndustry
• [New] The common denominator to brands that succeed in 2026 will be adaptability: they will experiment quickly, respond intelligently, and stay anchored in clear values as everything around them moves. The Drum
• [New] AI shopping tools gain traction, but retailer pushback could cloud 2026 progress. Ekamoira
• [New] Wellness is expanding as a lifestyle trend worldwide, with the wellness economy projected to grow from $5.6 trillion to $8.5 trillion by 2027. blooloop
• [New] In 2026, FDA plans to issue draft guidance addressing food labeling for online grocery shopping, including the online presentation of Nutrition Facts, ingredients, and allergen information. Morrison Foerster
• [New] Grocery shopping will be more expensive in 2026. Yahoo News
• [New] Livestream shopping, in-app purchasing on social platforms, and gamified commerce experiences are transforming passive content consumption into active shopping opportunities. Brand Communicator
• [New] More plant-based options and more flexitarian behaviour will occur in wealthy, urban markets, while total meat consumption increases globally as incomes rise elsewhere. Maui Vegan Life
• [New] The race toward seamless, hyper-personalized shopping experiences will shift into high gear in 2026. Publicis Sapient
• [New] In 2026, experts expect to see major trends that are changing the grocery shopping game. Eat This Not That
• [New] Financial stress will reach an all-time high in the first quarter of 2026, based on consumer behaviour data from its national network of financial counseling agencies that serve more than 1 million clients. CNBC
• [New] Agentic AI shopping could feed into commerce media growth, which is expected to increase 12.1% in 2026. Morning Brew
• [New] Google is one of a host of tech giants betting that agentic commerce will hit the big time in 2026, rolling out its Universal Commerce Protocol last month to standardise how businesses connect with AI agents across the shopping journey. FinExtra
• [New] The growing threat of agentic robots capable of autonomous shopping and payment poses a significant challenge to traditional marketplaces like eBay and Amazon. Anicca
• [New] In-store media accelerates as the next major retail media growth frontier: By 2026, retailers will expand in-store media through deeper partnerships with signage and content platforms and use AI to tailor messages to real-time traffic and shopper behaviour. Supermarket News

Last updated: 26 February 2026