AI is revolutionizing commerce, promising unprecedented growth and efficiency. But as brands race to integrate AI into every customer touchpoint, a critical challenge has emerged: consumer trust.

At Kepler, we believe understanding this "Trust Gap" is a growth imperative for brands in 2026. That's why we're thrilled to release our research piece: "Consumer Use, Adoption and Trust of AI – Understanding the Modern Consumer to Fuel the Growth Engine for Retail Marketers."

Our comprehensive global survey dives deep into consumer perceptions of AI, revealing crucial insights that will empower retail marketers to build trust and drive conversions.

What You'll Discover in This Report:

• The Nuance of Trust: Consumers aren't resisting AI, but they're inviting it into their lives with clear boundaries. They welcome it as an advisor, particularly in complex, high-consideration purchases like financial services or real estate, where they feel less confident making decisions alone. However, for everyday goods, consumers defer to their intuition and experience.

• The Transaction Barrier: While AI can guide the discovery phase, trust breaks down at the point of purchase. Our research shows that a staggering 80% of consumers are currently uncomfortable sharing payment information with an AI agent or new interface, preferring familiar, secure payment systems.

• The Enduring Power of Human Proof: AI helps narrow options, but it doesn't eliminate the emotional weight of a decision. In fact, 70% of consumers will still seek human validation –from reviews, Reddit, or friends, after receiving an AI recommendation. This means human insights don't compete with AI; they complete it.

• The New Role of Media: In this rewired consumer journey, paid media shifts from just driving awareness to becoming a vital "trust bridge," ensuring brands appear in credible human-centric environments exactly when consumers seek validation.

As AI continues to shape what consumers consider, it's trust that will ultimately determine what they choose. This report provides the strategic framework you need to navigate this evolving landscape and turn AI-generated intent into final transactions.

Download Your Copy of the Full Report.

Unlock the insights you need to build consumer trust and fuel your growth engine in 2026.