Is A People-First Strategy The New Key To 2026 Financial Growth?

"shows that while AI can drive hyper-personalized marketing and boost efficiency, it also raises concerns around privacy and authenticity, especially when data use becomes opaque or overly invasive. This tension pushes the buyer to change their spending behavior. It creates a window of opportunity for brands that prioritize trust, visibility, and emotional connection, components that can be found in a people-first strategy. So is this the new key to 2026 financial growth?"

""I scroll social media these days and it genuinely feels soulless. The posts are AI. The comments are AI. The same writing style, the same format, the same emptiness. Even Instagram Reels and YouTube videos are becoming AI voices reading AI scripts," said Steven Bartlett, top creator and host of The Diary of a CEO, in a recent LinkedIn post."

"AI Is Changing How People Buy, And Who They Trust We have all felt the influx of AI everywhere, from social media feeds and product recommendations to ultra-realistic videos and even chatbot-driven services. That content is becoming a regular part of how we interact online, but it is also shifting the lines between what feels authentic and what feels automated."

AI-generated content and automation are increasing across social media, marketing, and services, blurring lines between authentic and automated interactions. Hyper-personalized marketing can boost efficiency but also raises privacy and authenticity concerns when data use becomes opaque or invasive. Consumers may click through AI-driven recommendations but withhold purchase commitment without trust. Emotional connection, visibility, and transparent data practices build trust and create opportunities for brands. A people-first strategy that foregrounds human authenticity and privacy-respecting personalization can differentiate offerings, influence buyer behavior, and become a competitive lever for financial growth as AI ubiquity accelerates.

Read at Forbes