AI is changing how consumers find, compare and choose products. But how widely are shoppers using these tools, what do they expect from AI-powered retail experiences and where do concerns around trust and data sharing remain?
At this exclusive YouGov breakfast briefing, our experts and retail industry leaders explored what the latest consumer data reveals about the impact of AI on retail.
The discussion examined how consumer behaviour and expectations are evolving, what AI means for the path to purchase and how retailers can use reliable consumer insight to prepare for the peak shopping period.
On this page, you can access selected key insight slides from the event, highlighting the most important findings and discussion points shared with attendees.
You can also download YouGov’s AI's role in Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2026 report, featuring insights into consumer plans and priorities ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Key topics covered during the event included:
- What consumer data reveals about how AI assistants are influencing product discovery, comparison and purchase decisions
- How consumers feel about AI-powered personalisation, data sharing and trust
- What purchase intentions, spending priorities and shopping behaviour reveal about peak-season demand
- How retailers can use consumer insight to make more informed customer experience, marketing and planning decisions
The event also featured a lively discussion between industry experts, with attendees sharing perspectives on the opportunities and challenges AI presents for retailers as consumer expectations continue to evolve.
Agenda
08:30–09:00: Arrival, breakfast and networking
09:00–09:20: Welcome and insight session featuring new exclusive YouGov consumer data
Speakers:
- Will Heywood, Associate Director, Consumer Insight, YouGov
09:20–10:00: Panel discussion: AI in retail – From Insight to Impact
Speakers:
- Jen Ducarre, Global Consumer Insights Lead, Accenture
- Rachel Boyd, Insight Manager, Argos | Sainsbury's
- Iain Amos, Strategy & Insights Partner - UK & Ireland, Twinings
- Sarika Rana, Head of Consumer Insights UK, YouGov
- Sabrina Trinquetel CMRS, Account Manager, YouGov (Moderator)
10:00–10:30: Retail peer networking
Speakers
Rachel Boyd, Insight Manager, Argos | Sainsbury's
Rachel is an Insight Manager at Argos, with previous experience across Insight and Commercial roles at Sainsbury's, L'Oreal and in publishing. Rachel leads the insight work at Argos into how shoppers are using AI, and what that means for the business.
Jen Ducarre, Global Consumer Insights Lead, Accenture
Jen leads Accenture’s global consumer insights team, bringing a consumer perspective to conversations on disruption, technology and growth across consumer industries. With over a decade of experience in consumer insights and strategy, she focuses on how AI and agentic commerce are reshaping consumer expectations, behaviours and decision-making.
Iain Amos, Strategy & Insights Partner - UK & Ireland, Twinings
With almost 20 years' experience across Kantar, Tetley, Mars Wrigley, PepsiCo and Twinings, Iain has worked across insight, strategy, category management and customer marketing in markets spanning Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
He specialises in turning consumer understanding into better business strategy, innovation, packaging and communications. Since joining Twinings in 2019, he has helped drive the use of neuroscience and behavioural science to build deeper consumer understanding and support better business decisions.
More recently, Iain has been exploring how AI can enhance insight generation, decision-making and productivity across organisations, with a particular interest in where technology can strengthen, rather than replace, human judgement.
Sarika Rana, Head of Consumer Insights UK, YouGov
Sarika has more than 20 years of research experience across industries and international markets. She works closely with brands across retail, supermarkets, food and beverage, and travel, connecting consumer data and research to help organisations make informed business decisions.
Will Heywood, Associate Director, Consumer Insight, YouGov
Will Heywood is a Research Manager in YouGov's Consumer Insight team. With over a decade of experience in market research across diverse sectors, he leads on research with a number of retail and personal care clients. He manages YouGov’s syndicated Health and Wellbeing tracker, exploring trends such as the surge in interest in health treatments and the growing uptake of weight loss drugs.
Will works with brands to understand how these shifts are reshaping consumer behaviour and the wider health and wellness market.
Sabrina Trinquetel CMRS, Account Manager, YouGov
Sabrina is an Account Manager at YouGov with 15 years' experience across the full insights toolkit: quant, qual, communities and behavioural data. She works closely with clients to cut through the noise and get them to the answers that actually move their business forward, pulling on everything from real-time brand tracking to a 30-million-strong global panel to make it happen. She's moderating the event's panel on AI in retail.
