Gartner vs McKinsey & Company

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.

McKinsey: Global Assets Reach $165T, ETF Boom Drives Growth

According to a McKinsey study, global assets under management reached a new high of $165 trillion in H1 2026, up from $151 trillion at the end of 2025. Net inflows are projected to grow by 5% annually, the highest in a decade. European ETFs saw strong inflows, with $255 billion raised in H1 alone, nearly matching the previous full year. However, market concentration is increasing, with the top five ETF providers in the US capturing 94% of net inflows, and the top ten private credit funds accounting for 72%. Technology spending by asset managers rose 13% to $41 billion in 2025, driven by IT modernization and AI investments, which currently add costs before delivering significant savings. McKinsey concludes that growth in assets does not automatically translate into higher profitability, and firms must focus on specialization and efficient tech investment.

• Global assets under management reached $165 trillion in H1 2026, up from $151 trillion at end of 2025.
• European ETFs attracted $255 billion in net inflows in H1 2026, nearly matching the previous full year.
• In the US, the top five passive ETF providers captured 94% of net inflows, up 8 percentage points from five years ago.

Social Media Shapes Travel Planning, Trust Drives Bookings

A joint study by McKinsey and Skift, based on a survey of over 1,000 travelers and 200 user diaries, reveals that social media and AI are reshaping travel planning. 60% of respondents get new travel ideas from social media, while only 13% use AI for inspiration. However, trust remains crucial: 52% insist on controlling booking details, and 43% book through traditional channels like travel agencies or booking platforms. The abundance of options is overwhelming (45% frustrated by comparing across platforms), leading 63% to prefer platforms offering about ten curated choices. AI is used for research (71%) but not for final bookings. Post-booking, 51% have cancelled a stay after finding a better deal, highlighting the need for flexible conditions and transparency. McKinsey advises travel companies to simplify search, personalize offers, and maintain control for customers to build loyalty.

• 60% of respondents get travel ideas from social media.
• 52% insist on controlling booking details before confirmation.
• 43% booked their last trip via travel agencies or traditional booking platforms.

Yext Launches Multiplayer Agent Harness for Marketing

Yext, Inc. announced the launch of a multiplayer agent harness for marketing teams, expanding its agentic marketing platform Scout. The new harness provides a shared, context-rich workspace where corporate teams, field teams, partners, and AI agents collaborate on the same goals. This addresses the problem that AI agents have improved productivity but not necessarily business outcomes, with only 37% of respondents reporting positive enterprise EBIT contribution despite 80% productivity gains, according to McKinsey. Yext's CEO emphasizes the importance of combining human judgment with AI agents that carry historical context and brand knowledge. Scout continuously monitors a brand's presence across search, listings, reviews, and social surfaces, bringing attention to issues and actions. The agent harness is live today with Yext account teams.

• Yext announced a multiplayer agent harness for marketing teams.
• The agent harness is part of the Scout agentic marketing platform.
• Scout monitors brand presence across search, listings, reviews, and social.