Internet Consumer Insights

Trend - Tech brands are rolling out encrypted email platforms, secure messaging apps and privacy‑first communication suites. These services use end‑to‑end encryption, zero‑knowledge architecture and secure cloud storage to protect personal and business communications amid rising data breach attacks.

Insight - Consumers increasingly feel exposed online as cyberattacks, phishing attempts and data leaks become more common. Many worry their personal conversations, financial details or work files could be intercepted or misused, and worry that email services are opaque about security. People want private communication tools that reduce anxiety about digital threats and give them more control over their information. Encrypted services answer these pressures by offering safer, more trustworthy channels.

Trend - Specialty artificial intelligence (AI) companies are launching generative AI tools that simplify website creation. With no coding required by the end user, these tools use an intuitive prompt system which significantly lowers the barrier to entry for website building for businesses and freelancers.

Insight - In the modern era, online presences play pivotal roles in determining the success of a new startup or a freelancer's career. However, these demographics often struggle with the technical skills or financial freedom required to build an online presence. As a direct result of these challenges, services that reduce the barrier to entry for website and online presence creation are gaining popularity. New startups are addressing this demand by leveraging AI to create intuitive web-building tools.

Trend - Online retailers are launching shopping services specifically for VR headsets. By adding shopping directly to these devices, e-commerce is made more convenient for consumers. These immersive apps enable try-ons and previews in a 3D environment, more accurately conveying the details of products.

Insight - Tech-forward consumers have begun adopting spacial computing at accelerated rates while citing limitations of traditional human-machine interface (HMI) devices. In recognizing that consumer-grade spatial computing is in its early stages, brands are racing to ensure their services are available on these modern platforms. Brands that take advantage of the interactive HMI features native to these devices can more effectively market to both long-time users and new consumers entering this space.

Trend - Companies are using artificial intelligence to enhance news delivery through AI-powered applications and services. These tools curate news delivery to ensure only relevant information is delivered clearly and concisely. The AI tools are intended to reduce redundancy in news feeds significantly.

Insight - Time constraints are one of the largest factors that inhibit regular citizens' abilities to stay up to date on news stories. Most people do not have time to check several news outlets to sift through swathes of information, leading to most simply using social media feeds. Brands are identifying the challenges related to time and effort for news, and are creating easy-to-use, AI-powered news aggregators to draw in busier users.

Trend - Brands are launching online mental health platforms that connect communities facing similar challenges. These platforms enable connections with peers who can relate to one another without judgment. The online community approach is always accessible, making it easy for users to gain support.

Insight - Younger consumers are facing several unique mental health issues due to growing up with the Covid-19 pandemic at pivotal times in their lives. These consumers' familiarity with online services, in part due to remote schooling and remote work, leads them to gravitate toward internet-based solutions for shopping, social interaction, and even healthcare. Healthcare providers are recognizing the online-first, social-focused motifs of Gen Z—in turn launching online mental health networks.

Trend - Brands are launching virtual platforms designed to help workers with ADHD focus while working remotely. These platforms remove distractions, reward focused work, and use neuroscientist-backed methods to increase focus, all while being affordable and working around workers' busy schedules.

Insight - In the era of remote and hybrid work environments, works are tasked with more distractions than ever that prevent them from completing work effectively. These consumers often have constricted schedules, leading them to gravitate towards easily-accessible products and services that help improve the efficiency of their work environments. Brands are responding to these desires with low-cost, readily-available virtual services for workers with ADHD.

Trend - Tech companies are using artificial intelligence (AI) to create advanced dubbing software to help with translation and localization. AI dubbing goes beyond simple translation and text-to-speech, offering services that use the original actors' voices, dub in real-time, or maintain emotions.

Insight - Pandemic-induced lockdowns led to an influx of content and media consumption around the world. Many consumers began experimenting with international forms of content, having to enjoy this content with subtitles or poor translations, leading to a desire for improved content accessibility. AI solves this issue by providing curated dubbing services for each type of content, such as real-time dubbing for news broadcasts, or emotion-retaining, original-voice dubbing for television media.

Trend - Game developers are addressing the issue of inadequate LGBTQ+ representation in gaming. These communities often feel unrepresented by games that center around straight, cisgender characters. Development studios are addressing this blindspot by promoting LGBTQ+ characters and stories in video games.

Insight - Representation is key in the media as all consumers, from teens to adults, look for themselves in content that they consume. In gaming, members of the LGBQT+ community often feel unrepresented, turning to small-budget independent games that tell their stories. This has placed pressure on more prominent, mainstream game creators to incorporate more diverse stories, characters, and identities into video games. These titles also strive to educate gamers on LGBTQ+ issues.

Trend - The convenience of blockchain technologies led to developers incentivizing players to play their games for monetary compensation. These games award players NFTs and cryptocurrencies for performing well, providing direct and immediate real-world value for engaging with play-to-earn games.

Insight - Many gamers have a desire to transform gaming beyond a time-consuming hobby into a source of income. This was previously only possible through esports competitions or becoming an online content creator. Companies have found a way to satiate this desire for all players through the use of blockchain technologies. Gamers are more drawn to titles that implement this technology as they feel they are being more productive by generating income while indulging in their hobbies.

Trend - Companies that develop metaverse experiences have begun adopting machine-learning artificial intelligence systems in order to increase the quality of virtual worlds. Non-player characters are being augmented with AI to increase interactivity, immersion, and entertainment for players.

Insight - Non-player characters are necessary aspects of virtual worlds in the metaverse. These characters interact with the player in different ways, acting as virtual storefronts, tour guides, help networks, or parts of a video game. However, these characters often function in one-dimensional ways, leading to repetitive outcomes. Virtual world attendees have begun seeking more interactive, dynamic experiences that do not take away from the immersive experience that virtual worlds provide.