Gartner vs MarketsandMarkets

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.

Green Water Treatment Chemicals Market to Reach $2.61B by 2031

MarketsandMarkets forecasts the green water treatment chemicals market to grow from USD 1.82 billion in 2026 to USD 2.61 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 7.5%. Growth is driven by rising demand for sustainable water treatment, industrialization, water scarcity, and stricter environmental regulations. Asia Pacific leads with a 28.6% market share in 2025. Key players include Kemira, Veolia, and Ecolab. Recent M&A activity includes Veolia's acquisition of Enviropacific for approximately AUD 220 million in March 2026, and Kemira's acquisition of Clear Water Technologies in June 2026.

• Market projected to grow from USD 1.82B in 2026 to USD 2.61B by 2031 at 7.5% CAGR.
• Asia Pacific held largest regional share of 28.6% in 2025.
• Coagulants & flocculants dominate with 29.6% share in 2025.

Identity Verification Market to Reach $33.36B by 2031

MarketsandMarkets projects the global identity verification market to grow from $16.48 billion in 2026 to $33.36 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 15.1%. The report highlights key drivers such as digital onboarding, remote transactions, and increasing regulatory requirements. The solutions segment is expected to dominate, with the on-premises deployment leading. Asia Pacific is projected to register the highest CAGR. The market is seeing significant M&A activity, including acquisitions by Socure, Signicat, and LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Notable investments include Persona's $200M Series D and Socure's recent growth funding. The report also lists major players and emphasizes a shift toward unified platforms integrating verification, fraud prevention, and risk assessment.

• Identity verification market projected to grow from $16.48B in 2026 to $33.36B by 2031 (CAGR 15.1%).
• North America expected to hold largest market share (39.26%) in 2026.
• Persona raised $200M in Series D funding (April 2025) at a $2B valuation.

Cold Chain Monitoring Market to Reach $19.54B by 2032

MarketsandMarkets projects the global cold chain monitoring market to grow from USD 9.50 billion in 2026 to USD 19.54 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 12.8%. The growth is driven by increasing demand for real-time temperature monitoring, shipment visibility, automated alerts, and regulatory compliance across pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, healthcare, logistics, and retail. Key segments include the chilled temperature type, software offerings, and the transportation logistics segment. North America is expected to dominate in 2025, while Asia Pacific leads by 2032. Major players include Carrier, ORBCOMM, Controlant, Cryoport, and Testo.

• Cold chain monitoring market projected to reach USD 19.54 billion by 2032.
• Market valued at USD 9.50 billion in 2026, CAGR of 12.8% from 2026-2032.
• Software segment expected to register highest CAGR of ~16.8% during forecast period.