The New Path to Purchase: AI, Social Commerce and Measurable Growth (Jack O'Leary, Director, eCommerce Strategic Insights at NielsenIQ)

Before we dive into predictions and trends, can you share a bit about your journey and what led you to the role you are in today?

Retail Media is getting more fragmented each year. How should brands measure Share of Voice across channels, and how important will unified measurement be for planning and performance in the coming years?

The future of online grocery is evolving fast as fulfillment, speed, and convenience expectations keep rising. What innovations or operational models do you expect to define winning retailers in 2026?

Measurement is becoming a core competitive advantage. How should brands think about connecting digital shelf conditions to actual sales performance, what some call “Digital Causals,” and what new metrics will matter most by 2026?

AI influenced and eventually AI controlled shopper journeys are becoming more real every day. How should brands prepare for a world where algorithms, not humans, are making many of the product decisions?

As we look toward 2026, which emerging trends do you believe will create the biggest disruption in how shoppers browse and buy, especially across platforms like TikTok Shop, Instacart, and Amazon’s 1P and 3P marketplace?