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Episode Summary: AI, Innovation, and Market Research Trends (January 9 – January 15, 2026)
AI and Tech Innovations in Market Research
- Listen Labs Secures $69M to Scale AI-Driven Research – AI-first insights platform Listen Labs raised a $69M Series B just nine months post-launch. The San Francisco startup’s AI “interviewer” conducts consumer feedback sessions via access to a 30-million-person panel, auto-generating reports and highlight reels. The new funding (led by Ribbit Capital) will help replace slow traditional surveys with rapid, AI-run interviews and analysis for enterprise clients like Microsoft.
- MahaloHub Unveils Predictive Resonance Score for Creatives – Video insights firm MahaloHub introduced a Predictive Resonance Score (PRS), an AI-powered metric predicting how well ads will resonate before launch. Built into MahaloHub’s Clarity platform, PRS analyzes short video responses (facial expressions, vocal tone, etc.) to score a message’s emotional impact, clarity, and shareability. By identifying winning creative concepts in hours, PRS aims to save marketers from costly trial-and-error in ad testing.
B2B Market Research Developments
- IRB Launches Indian Healthcare Professional Panel – B2B research provider IRB (Internet Research Bureau) rolled out a specialized panel of verified doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals across India. The new HCP panel offers pharma and medical device researchers direct access to hard-to-reach specialists (from GPs to oncologists), backed by strict multi-step verification and fair incentives. IRB’s CEO says this “verified community” tackles the historically fragmented Indian healthcare market, ensuring genuine expert insights for one of the world’s fastest-growing pharma markets.
- Radius Insights Debuts Dedicated Tech Industry Practice – US-based agency Radius Insights launched “Radius Tech,” a consulting practice focused on technology sector clients. Led by Illuminas North America co-founder Carrie Angiolet, the new unit integrates secondary data, AI, and advanced analytics with human expertise to address tech’s long B2B buying cycles. CEO Rob Wengel says Radius Tech will help tech companies “cut through the noise,” delivering richer, predictive insights for product development, go-to-market, and customer experience teams.
Partnerships, Mergers, and Acquisitions
- Rodeo13 Acquires Harpeth Marketing’s Agency Division – Nashville-based Harpeth Marketing sold its marketing services division to Rodeo13, marking consolidation in agencies serving research firms. Harpeth founder Steve Henke, who built a strong reputation helping MR companies with marketing, says the deal lets Harpeth refocus on sales training. Rodeo13 (launched 2023 by ex-Savanta exec Norbert Sari) absorbs Harpeth’s team and clients, bolstering its transatlantic support for insight industry growth. Sari welcomed the chance to “carry on the work Steve started” and expand Rodeo13’s marketing solutions for MRX companies.
- HarrisQuest Integrates with Displayr for DIY Surveys – Stagwell’s HarrisQuest DIY survey platform formed a partnership with analysis software Displayr to streamline research workflows. The integration lets users of QuestDIY (an AI-powered survey builder) seamlessly access Displayr’s advanced reporting and visualization tools. New features include integrated dashboards, one-click cross-tab “Explore” filters, and AI-assisted data cleaning and reporting. HarrisQuest’s MD Gary Topiol says moving from survey design to actionable insights now takes “a fraction of the time” without juggling multiple tools.
- ISG Bets Big on AI: Acquisition and New AI Unit – Tech research firm ISG (Information Services Group) acquired the AI Maturity Index platform to boost its clients’ AI readiness benchmarking. Simultaneously, ISG appointed Steve Hall as its first Chief AI Officer and launched an AI Acceleration Unit to “turbocharge” its AI capabilities. A new AI-powered insights platform is slated this quarter, featuring an “intelligence advisor” that lets clients query ISG’s vast market data. Chairman & CEO Michael Connors said ISG is “moving with speed on AI,” aiming to maximize client ROI by blending market advisory with proprietary AI tools.
Industry Leadership & Organizational Changes
- Ipsos Founder Steps Down as Chairman – Industry icon Didier Truchot is relinquishing his role as Ipsos Chairman after 50+ years at the helm, citing health reasons. Truchot, who built the firm from a 1975 startup to a 90-country powerhouse, will become Chairman Emeritus while retaining a board seat and major shareholding. Longtime Deputy CEO Laurence Stoclet will take over as Chair at the end of February. Truchot told the board that AI presents “considerable opportunities” for Ipsos, and expressed confidence in new CEO Jean-Laurent Poitou to keep the company an “undisputed world leader” in insights.
- Human8 Announces New UK and APAC Leaders – Global consultancy Human8 (formerly InSites Consulting) made senior appointments to drive its next phase of growth. In London, industry veteran Jane Bloomfield was named Managing Director UK, uniting Human8’s UK team with its cultural strategy arm (Space Doctors) under one lead. In Singapore, Katie McClintock was appointed Managing Director APAC as longtime APAC head Maz Amirahmadi retires. CEO Tim Wragg said the changes position Human8 for “a changing world,” combining tech-enabled collaboration with deep human insights to help brands thrive.
- Verve Hires Partnerships Head to Scale AI Platform – Verve, the London-based insights agency known for community panels, appointed Tim Steere as Executive Director of Agency Partnerships. This new role will expand partnerships around Verve Vero – the firm’s AI-driven research platform that creates “Intelligent Personas & Simulations” for brands. Steere brings 15 years of client-side analytics experience (ex-Leeds Building Society) to help Verve collaborate with consultancies in sectors like healthcare and B2B. Founder & CEO Andrew Cooper says after building Vero’s capabilities, Verve is now focused on scaling it via partnerships, and Steere will “power up partners with robust, insight-driven tools” for their clients.
Expert Insights & Thought Leadership
- AI Ethics Take Center Stage – With AI adoption surging, industry voices are urging a shift from “Can we do this with AI?” to “Should we?”. A commentary in MediaPost stressed the need for “intentional intelligence,” warning that automation without ethical safeguards can amplify biases or erode consumer trust. Experts advise brands to implement human-in-the-loop oversight, transparency about AI usage, and regular algorithm audits so that innovation aligns with values, not just efficiency. The consensus: in 2026, competitive advantage will favor organizations that harness AI responsibly and transparently.