It's not exactly a secret that many advertisers are using generative AI in their marketing, from producing copy to editing images. What isn't always as obvious is exactly when those tools are being used, and when advertisers ought to make AI usage clear to their audiences. Last month, the IAB launched a new framework to standardize when AI in ads should be disclosed.
Key stat: 45% of US adults say pleasant and happy visuals in pharma ads are misleading, according to November 2025 data from SiriusXM Media. Beyond the chart: 23% of US adults in 2025 say the healthcare system is in a state of crisis, the highest share recorded this century, according to a December 2025 survey from Gallup News Service West. 52.1% of US consumers say personalized healthcare advertising invades their privacy, according to January 2025 data from StackAdapt and EMARKETER.
Five years later, that decline has reached a clear low point. Only 20 percent of Millennials and Gen Z say they trust mortgage professionals to help them make informed decisions. The knowledge gap remains significant, but in an age when information is everywhere, knowledge is no longer the only barrier. The deeper challenge is a lack of trust, and trust cannot be automated or outsourced. It has to be built in community.
Prize draw platforms sit at the intersection of consumer entertainment, payments and regulation. While often perceived as simple promotional products, their commercial viability is shaped by trust, compliance and revenue structure. Digital prize draw businesses occupy a distinct niche in the UK market. Win A Million, which launched in 2025, operates as an online prize draw platform offering both paid and free entry routes.
The research shows that 41.85% of British respondents consider brand ads on reputable news or magazine websites credible or very credible, while only 14.11% view them as low in credibility.
But, within the iGaming world, trust is essential and in fact what drives engagement and retention. It's also all to do with the payment method, and the way casinos and betting platforms handle security, transparency and speed of all transactions. For instance, the best online casinos that payout do so quickly and efficiently. There are no surprise fees, no high withdrawal requirements and so on. As such, consumers develop trust in the brand and keep coming back.
The January sales drifted back to become the St ­Stephen's Day sales, as the stores decided to cash in right after the Christmas presents were bought and to strike while shoppers still had a bit of cash. The notion of a sale starting before Christmas Day though seemed absurd. Nowadays, those same stores that strictly observed the rules of the shopping game are pulling all sorts of stunts to draw in the footfall. Mid-season sales, pre-Christmas sales and winter sales are all normal.
By activating the feature, I thought I was building up savings in the background. Then I discovered hundreds of transactions, made without my knowledge For years, I was Revolut's biggest cheerleader. As a travel writer, I relied on it for switching currencies with a swipe, avoiding the hidden fees traditional banks may charge. It felt like the future of banking: sleek, fast, user-friendly.
The promised AI revolution in shopping is starting to materialise, with shoppers increasingly trusting agents for personal recommendations ahead of the festive season. Traffic to retail sites from AI tools is expected to surge fivefold year-over-year, with particular boosts on Cyber Monday and Black Friday, according to Adobe. "Traditional models of how consumers react with the web are going out the window," Max Sinclair, Azoma CEO, said. "Intelligent assistants begin to handle browsing, recommendations and purchasing on behalf of users."
As you browse your social media feeds or check out billboards on a leisurely drive, you might notice a recent phenomenon: Everything seems quite, well, similar. "If you go to the comment section of any viral post right now, all the brands are commenting and they all sound exactly the same," says Rachel Karten, a social media consultant and author of the popular industry newsletter Link In Bio. If you run a business, it's more important than ever to carve out a distinct brand identity-and your brand's voice, or how you express your brand's values, point of view, and attitudes, is key. "Brand voice can be the differentiator when every brand sounds the same," Karten says.
iMAD Research Inc. (https://imad.com), a global market intelligence firm, recently concluded a multi-country study aimed at understanding adoption challenges for smart meter technology in semi-urban and urban business environments. The research revealed critical behavioural insights related to consumer hesitancy, billing trust gaps, and digital readiness among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Founded in 2017 by Kartik Khanna and Abhishek Soni, iMAD Research Inc. operates across the United States, United Kingdom, and India, with over 2.5 million verified respondents globally.
Hyper-personalization-AI's ability to tailor experiences down to the individual level-has become the new norm. For many consumers, these recommendations feel helpful, convenient, and even delightful. Yet, for others, they provoke discomfort, raising questions about just how much these platforms know about us. This paradox is at the heart of a growing debate: Does hyper-personalization build consumer trust and loyalty, or does it erode them by feeling intrusive? And more importantly, how does it shape our purchase intention?
Back Market, the online refurbished tech marketplace, offers buyers who want to save money on electronics (and reduce e-waste) good-as-new products repaired by experts. Starting today, the retailer has taken the process to its first-ever brick-and-mortar store, where buyers can shop for secondhand phones and laptops in person -- just like at an Apple Store. The company's pilot store opened its doors on Wednesday in New York City's Soho neighborhood, inviting consumers to see and touch repaired devices before buying them.
The survey, which sampled 20,000 people across ten countries (including Germany, France, Poland, the UK, the US, Japan, and India), found that 66 percent of respondents worldwide trust products bearing the "Made in Germany" label. This puts it ahead of Switzerland (in second place with 62 percent) and Japan (third, with 59 percent) in overall consumer confidence. The label influences purchasing decisions positively for 65 percent of respondents, again ahead of Switzerland and Japan, and enjoys a particularly strong reputation for cars and household appliances.
Artificial intelligence is plowing ahead, but it could be setting back the multi-trillion dollar retail sector as humans doubt the authenticity of what they're buying ― and who's trying to sell it to them. Rapid advances in technology mean an army of AI influencers could soon be used to promote serums for acne they never dealt with, and jeans they never had to wiggle into.
As New York's legal weed market matures, consumer expectations are evolving just as fast as the laws themselves. While flashy packaging and catchy names might capture attention, today's consumers want more than hype-they want honesty. In a state navigating a rapidly changing regulatory landscape, cannabis brands that prioritize transparency are emerging as the most trusted and resilient players in the industry.
