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Trend - CPG brands are releasing flavored breakfast bars designed for children. These breakfast bars are made soft and easy-to-chew, while also being rich in nutrients. These are designed to replace occasional breakfasts for children during busy days.

Insight - Parents with busy schedules may not always have time to prepare full balanced breakfasts for their children. However, most parents do not want to give their kids non-nutritious breakfasts, such as fast-food meals or microwave meals, when busy. As a result, these parents seek out solutions that are quick and easy to serve, but do not compromise on health or nutritional value. Brands are responding to these pressures with convenient breakfast bars designed specifically for younger children.

Trend - Meal kit brands are launching various forms of smart meal kits. These kits use artificial intelligence algorithms to ensure both that no ingredients are leftover, and that consumers only purchase products that they know they will eat. This helps reduce the stress and cost of grocery shopping.

Insight - With the rising price of groceries and the increasingly busy nature of working adults in North America, many find it difficult to find time to grocery shop properly without overspending. These consumers are often drawn to premade meal services. However, many of these services have limitations related to variety, and often only provide enough ingredients for their prepared meals. For those looking to grocery shop beyond a curated list of dinners, brands are launching AI grocer tools.

Trend - Food & beverage brands are creating drinks designed to alleviate stress. This is achieved by swapping out stressing ingredients, such as processed sugars and caffeine, with stress-relieving alternatives, such as magnesium and lion's mane, generating healthier energy for consumers.

Insight - It is clear that many adults in the western world live high-stress lives. Between balancing work with personal lives while trying to maintain personal health, time is stretched thin. However, many adults are unaware of how impactful a diet is on both their mental and physical health, with sugars and processed goods raising heartrates and causing increased average stress levels. In order to help regulate the stresses and sleep schedules of these adults, brands are offering de-stressing beverages.

Trend - Industry-leading gaming brands are releasing game consoles devoid of disc drives in favor of all-digital downloads. By foregoing the disc drive, brands can offer consoles at reduced prices, while game prices themselves can be lowered by not needing to mass-produce and distribute physical copies.

Insight - One of the largest reasons why a modern gamer may gravitate toward a console rather than a computer is due to convenience and simplicity. Game consoles are plug-and-play experiences that require no tinkering. Additionally, these consumers are drawn to the cost-effectiveness of consoles. Gaming brands are taking into account the priorities of convenience and cost-effectiveness and offering devices with lower prices and free of disc drives to provide savings and simplicity.

Trend - Software companies in the gaming space are launching marketplaces designed for game developers. These marketplaces offer assets, such as 3D character models, audio tracks, or maps, to be purchased and licensed for use by other developers, aiming to streamline and decentralize game development.

Insight - Novice game developers could encounter any number of issues when entering the space based on their prior expertise. For example, those with an artistic background may have no trouble drawing their character models and maps, but may struggle with music or 3D animations, while the inverse may be true for another developer. In order to appeal to these developers and alleviate stress where it may arise, gaming software brands are launching marketplaces with licensable assets.

Trend - Companies are creating suites of AI-powered tools designed to improve the experience of job searching and interviewing. These tools range from resume generators and optimizers to mock interviews or interview feedback platforms. These brands aim to provide a leg-up in a competitive job market.

Insight - The rise of artificial intelligence is increasingly being integrated into countless professional and personal fields, with the hiring and onboarding processes being no exception. Human Resources departments are turning to AI tools to sift through resumes, leading to a competitive job market being made more competitive for applicants with less experience. In order to appeal to these aspiring professionals, brands are creating AI tools that streamline application processes.

Trend - Many consumers, especially younger Millennials and older members of Gen Z, are experiencing digital fatigue. Ironically, artificial intelligence can be the remedy to this as this technology does not require screen time to be effective. AI features integrated into analog objects are an example of this compromise.

Insight - Those who are considered digital natives are showing an increased interest in reducing their screen time, especially post-pandemic. However, this can be difficult given how dependent these generations are on technology for things like socialization or work. Counterintuitively, AI can help strike this balance if used correctly. This means positioning AI as an ally in human development and creativity, as opposed to a replacement for humans themselves.

Trend - Brands in the skincare space are launching products designed to be refilled with sustainable pods. These pods both enhance sustainability by reducing single-use plastics, while also reducing costs for repeat customers, as they only need to purchase the main product once.

Insight - Consumers with daily skincare routines are continually seeking ways to reduce the costs and environmental impact of their routines without compromising on quality. While many such consumers take advantage of recurring product subscriptions or loyalty programs, not all may feel they use the products enough to get full value out of these systems. Additionally, recurring deliveries of products have large environmental impacts. Brands are addressing these concerns with refillable, sustainable pods.

Trend - Candle products are embracing innovative refill technology to reduce packaging waste and improve cost-effectiveness. This eco-friendly approach allows consumers to replace only the wax or wick rather than buying a new candle, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.

Insight - Greater access to education on climate change and overconsumption has empowered consumers to understand better how their purchasing decisions affect the environment. In response, many are seeking products that enable them to make small, incremental adjustments to their lifestyles without giving up or replacing their favorite items. Businesses offering sustainable yet convenient solutions can attract eco-conscious shoppers who prioritize environmental impact and ease of use when purchasing.

Trend - Lifestyle brands are releasing soft plushies with weighted fillings to make them more huggable and cuddlable. These plushies are designed to appeal to children and to calm children with anxiety or during stressful situations. The plushies are often given familiar designs to enhance comfort.

Insight - Many new parents find difficulties in time management when it comes to balancing raising a child with a career and personal obligations. These parents continually search for tips, tricks, and solutions, such as meal prepping or AI-powered baby monitors, to challenges related to raising children. However, many of these solutions deal with tangible time-related challenges, rather than emotional ones. In order to assist parents in these areas, brands are releasing weighted calming plushies.