Metaverse Hype Underperforms: Why It’s Less Important in 2026
Once touted as the tech future, the metaverse has failed to gain expected traction, with Big Tech scaling back investments and users showing limited adoption.
Adobe: AI-Driven Shopping Rises Less Than Expected on Super Bowl Sunday
Adobe data shows AI-mediated retail traffic during Super Bowl weekend grew significantly year-over-year, but Super Bowl Sunday itself saw a more modest uplift than broader seasonal trends predicted.
South Korea Tightens Crypto Oversight After Bithumb Bitcoin Error
Following a $40 billion bitcoin mis-distribution by Bithumb, South Korean regulators are accelerating plans for stronger crypto market regulation and investor protections.
New Research Shows AI Agents Learn Altruism From Human Behavior
New research finds that AI agents can infer and exhibit human-like altruistic tendencies by learning from real human decision-making across cultural contexts.
Roblox Shifts Strategy to Attract Older Players
Roblox is actively pursuing a broader audience by enhancing platform experiences and content to draw more users aged 18 and over, as adult engagement grows and monetization opportunities expand.
4 Ways Shippers Can Win After De Minimis Ends
With the U.S. elimination of the de minimis import exemption, shippers must rethink data, margins, customs and carrier contracts to maintain competitiveness.
Walmart Expands Automation at Louisiana Distribution Center
Walmart is accelerating warehouse automation with a robotics-forward distribution center in Opelousas, Louisiana, reinforcing its long-term supply chain strategy.
Betting on Everything Is Now a Business Signal
Prediction markets like Kalshi are expanding rapidly, raising new questions for retailers, brands, and regulators about consumer behavior, data, and commerce.
Valentine’s Day 2026 Spending Faces Reality Check
Valentine’s Day 2026 spending expectations reflect cautious consumers, value-driven gifting, and evolving retail strategies amid economic uncertainty.
Where is the Friction Line in Retail Returns?
As refund volumes rise and retailers tighten policies, industry leaders debate the balance between reducing return costs and preserving customer experience.
Surveillance Pricing Faces Regulatory Scrutiny
Governments and regulators are increasingly scrutinizing AI-driven surveillance pricing models as concerns grow over fairness, transparency, and consumer harm.
Allbirds Exits U.S. Retail, Closing All Full-Price Stores
Sustainable footwear brand Allbirds will shutter all remaining U.S. full-price stores by February 2026 as it pivots to e-commerce and wholesale channels.
Gen Z Pushes Healthcare Toward Mobile Payments
Younger patients increasingly expect smartphone-based payment options in healthcare, signaling a shift in how providers approach billing, access, and patient experience.
Billing Transforms From Back-Office Duty to Loyalty Engine
Businesses increasingly view billing not just as an administrative task, but as a strategic customer engagement and loyalty driver that can strengthen relationships and retention.
AI Forces Big Tech to Rethink Strategic Priorities
As artificial intelligence evolves from incremental enhancement to core disruption, major technology companies face an Innovator’s Dilemma that may reshape revenue models and competitive positioning.
How Rally House Transformed Retail Experience Using Zebra and Sitoo
Rally House rapidly enhanced its retail operations and customer experience by deploying Zebra and Sitoo's POS and Unified Commerce Platform across 200 stores in just four months, achieving instant ROI and seamless omnichannel integration.