eMarketer vs Gartner

Pixability Launches Pixie to Detect AI Slop on YouTube

Pixability, a YouTube technology and data platform, has launched a new solution called Pixie to help brands and agencies avoid AI-generated 'slop' content on YouTube. The tool uses a combination of human verification and AI to identify and exclude made-for-advertising content, clickbait, and 'brain rot' videos from ad placements. Pixability assesses over 8 billion YouTube videos across 40 million channels. The launch comes as studies show a significant portion of YouTube feeds are AI-generated, and 53% of U.S. media experts cite ad adjacency to generative AI content as a top challenge in 2026. Pixability partners with Famous Birthdays to verify human creators. The company claims that avoiding slop can improve conversion rates by over 50%.

• Pixability launched a new solution called Pixie to detect and exclude AI-generated slop content on YouTube.
• Pixability assesses over 8 billion YouTube videos across 40 million channels.
• Pixability partners with Famous Birthdays to verify human creators.

EMARKETER acquires research arm of RetailX for global expansion of trusted retail brand rankings

EMARKETER acquires research arm of RetailX for global expansion of trusted retail brand rankings

EMARKETER acquires research arm of RetailX for global expansion of trusted retail brand rankings

EMARKETER announces acquisition of RetailX's research arm to expand its retail brand rankings globally.

Holiday Shoppers Use AI for Deals, Keep Autonomy

A Gartner survey reveals that one-third of consumers are willing to use generative AI for holiday gift recommendations, but only 13% currently do so for inspiration. Shoppers use AI for price comparisons and narrowing down choices, yet they resist letting AI finalize purchases, valuing personal autonomy in gifting. William Blair data shows 88% used an AI tool in the past six months, with 80% using it at least occasionally pre-purchase. Trust concerns, especially regarding data security, hinder broader adoption of agentic commerce. Big retailers like Walmart are investing in agentic AI, but widespread finalization by AI remains distant. The FTC has also ordered Walmart and Target to provide info on personalized pricing.

• One-third of consumers are very or extremely willing to use generative-AI tools for holiday gift recommendations.
• Only 13% of shoppers currently use AI tools to inspire holiday shopping.
• William Blair survey: 88% of respondents used an AI tool in the past six months.

Gartner Survey Finds Two New AI-Related Risks Emerge in Third-Quarter 2026 Report

Gartner Survey Finds Two New AI-Related Risks Emerge in Third-Quarter 2026 Report Audit and Risk

Adobe: AI-generated Traffic Boosts Retail Revenue per Visit

Adobe Analytics reveals that AI-referred traffic (e.g., from ChatGPT, Gemini) to US retail sites is increasingly valuable. In September 2026, such visits generated 83% higher revenue per visit, with a 90% higher conversion rate, 73% longer time on site, 25% more page views, and 53% more cart additions compared to other channels. AI traffic surged 71% year-over-year and 1,772% since October 2024. Adobe's Citation Readability Score, which measures how easily AI can cite website content, rated the average US retail homepage at only 63%, indicating over a third of content is hard for AI to understand. Electronics pages scored higher (79%), while promotional homepages lagged. The findings underscore the growing importance of AI visibility for e-commerce, despite limited consumer acceptance of autonomous purchases.

• AI-referred traffic to US retail sites generated 83% higher revenue per visit and 90% higher conversion rates in September 2026.
• AI-referred visitors spent 73% more time on site, viewed 25% more pages, and added 53% more items to cart.
• AI traffic to US retail sites grew 71% year-over-year in September 2026, and 1,772% since October 2024.