Retailers have spent years experimenting with AI, but consumers are now signaling that the technology has become an expected part of the shopping journey.

Barclays analysts said predictions markets are seeing trading volume that rivals other speculative investments popular with retail traders.

Palantir has long been a favorite of the retail crowd, but a frenzy for other AI plays, namely memory stocks, has turned the cohort into sellers.

Retail investor activity in U.S. equities has surged alongside the recent market rally, with Goldman Sachs estimating the cohort now holds $12 trillion in self-directed brokerage accounts, equivalent to roughly 10% of total U.

Retail investors keep buying the dip as volatility rises, fueling the AI‑driven rally. This piece explores the behavior, risks and cultural forces shaping the trend.

DFI Retail Group CEO Scott Price shares insights on navigating Asia’s fast-changing retail landscape — and how the company is adapting to shifting consumer trends, data-driven shopping and rising competition.