Key 2026 consumer trends include AI-assisted shopping: Shinhan Card

Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted spending makes up one of the six key consumer trends for 2026, highlighting consumers’ desire to make rational decisions in the face of overwhelming information, Shinhan Card said Wednesday. The other five trends identified by the country’s leading credit card issuer are price optimization, slow-paced experiential consumption, fandom-driven subculture, data-driven health management and group-based bulk buying. “We summarize these trends under the term 'Wise up,'” the company said, noting that although the phrase is not standard English, it reflects how consumers are becoming smarter and more aware in their spending. “The term represents a new era where consumers leverage technology and data to make smarter choices,” it added. The six keywords were picked based on an analysis conducted by Shinhan Card’s big data research center covering the period from January to October 2025. The company explained that AI assistants are becoming increasingly important, as AI is used to support daily life across work, shopping and other activities. It noteWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times