Prosumerism

Trend - 3D scanner apps capture and generate three-dimensional models of real-world objects or environments. These apps transform physical objects into digital 3D assets that can be used in various applications and industries, including augmented reality, virtual reality, design, gaming, and health.

Insight - Consumers are often looking for ways to access advanced technology without purchasing a new device, and mobile-integrated scanners are an accessible resource for individuals looking to view and create personalized digital assets. By using an app instead of a machine, consumers without prior experience in 3D assets can experiment and produce their own without incurring hefty costs.

Trend - Independent developers are using shared protocols to create decentralized content aggregator platforms. Companies do not own or moderate these platforms, which offers better privacy than large alternatives. Many of these platforms communicate with one another to form the 'Fediverse.'

Insight - Social media users are becoming increasingly dissuaded from the popular websites due to changes in moderation. Undesirable policy changes such as restrictive guidelines, feature monetization, and centralized control have led to users gravitating towards alternatives created by independent developers. Users prioritize privacy, personalization, and freedom on social media platforms, leading to several decentralized platforms that form the federalized metaverse, or the Fediverse.

Trend - Brands in the artificial intelligence space are launching journaling apps backed by generative AI. These services can help journalers identify patterns in their lives while receiving advice from AI. The AI provides insight into emotional states that otherwise may not have been identified.

Insight - The recent influx of generative AI-powered apps and services has led to many customers seeking out AI-powered apps over regular alternatives. AI typically offers value-adds to applications that would otherwise be very difficult to implement at scale. These customers desire AI for its speed, flexibility, customizability, and personalization, as well as its ability to sort through large amounts of data in an instant. Many such customers desire a personalized AI chatbot for more emotional questions, rather than a massive large language model with a factual focus.

Trend - Companies are launching premium air purifiers designed for vehicles. These purifiers either run on battery, USB, or lighter socket power, meaning they are compatible with any car. The purifier helps customers breathe fresh air, even when the car is stored for long periods or is stuffy.

Insight - Recently, major cities around the world have had worsening air quality for a variety of reasons from industrial manufacturing to wildfires and pollution. Consumers in these cities wear masks and run humidifiers and air purifiers at home or in the office to ensure they breathe clean air. However, there are still a number of situations, such as while in a car or at a store, where the air is potentially stuffy and unpurified. As a response, brands are launching new dedicated air filters.

Trend - New artificial intelligence (AI)-powered startups are launching tools that create detailed custom videos from detailed text prompts. These tools use generative AI to quickly create and edit videos to the users' liking, which is excellent for creative expression and advertising alike.

Insight - With the influx of artificial intelligence services, consumers and businesses alike are becoming increasingly familiar with integrating this technology into daily tasks. These generative AI tools offer near-instant results for consumers with creative ideas, individual startups, or even large-scale businesses working on ad campaigns. The promise of fast, affordable, personalized products from generative AI has led to consumers gravitating towards these services over alternatives.

Trend - Esports teams and organizations have begun opening physical facilities across the world for players to hone their skills, participate in live events, explore wellness practices, and produce in-house content. Physical esports facilities also house content creators and professional esports players pursuing higher opportunities and help connect influencers looking to collaborate.

Insight - Content houses and facilities provide a unique gaming experience to locals looking to get involved with the esports scene. Content facilities often become gathering places for lovers of a specific team or game. This helps local fans connect with their idols and participate in events such as local area network (LAN) tournaments and meet and greets. By fostering relationships with notable team members and aspiring creators, consumers looking to pursue a professional career in gaming can network easier and seek out opportunities within the scene.

Trend - As food from East Asian countries reaches mainstream popularity, early adopters look to the south of the continent for new inspiration. The Philippines is an archipelago in Southeast Asia. Its cuisine is influenced by Indigenous practices, Spanish colonization, American military relations, and more. This makes for flavors that are both adventurous and familiar to North American palates.

Insight - The act of embracing global flavors is a defining trait of the foodie world; however, as social media enables greater connectivity, this is less about North American consumers seeking new flavors as it is about the online foodie community expanding its reach. The Philippines is among the top 10 countries in the world with the most social media users; this correlates to the idea that new global flavor trends are no longer dictated by mainstream desire, but by their exposure to more global creators.

Trend - Gaming and consumer electronics brands are creating modular controllers with accessible designs. These are larger controllers with extreme customization, allowing them to fit the needs of gamers with limited mobility. With larger companies entering this space, prices are now more accessible.

Insight - Console gamers have seldom had the ability to choose their input devices, with most previous console generations only supporting one official controller with one design. This one-size-fits-all design is exclusionary to individuals with limited mobility. However, these gamers do not want to be excluded and should not have to pay inflated prices for the same enjoyment as others. It is then mutually beneficial for brands to create alternative solutions for these customers.

Trend - Computer manufacturers are using open-source operating systems (OS) to create more curated experiences for consumers while simultaneously diversifying the OS market. These open-source systems offer benefits that range from streamlined processes and user interfaces to personalization.

Insight - Many consumers that use computers for either entertainment or professional purposes feel that traditional operating systems are difficult to navigate and are cumbersome. Companies are adapting to this pressure by equipping computers with operating systems that are tailored to the desired use case. This leads to developer-focused laptops with coding-focused home pages or gaming computers that launch directly into gaming platforms.

Trend - Companies have turned artificial intelligence algorithms toward the art industry with convenient platforms that generate detailed artwork based on a simple text prompt. These platforms can replicate specific art styles and are capable of depicting specific subjects in true-to-life detail.

Insight - Detailed artwork often takes long hours to produce, not counting the countless hours it takes to acquire the relevant skills. However, oftentimes individuals have ideas that would result in artistic creations, but do not have the skills to produce these works. This demand for personalized, relevant and detailed artwork (combined with ensured ownership of AI-created works) has resulted in several AI-powered platforms quickly gaining popularity across all major social media platforms.