In this special New Year episode of Signal and Noise, Brian Lamar and Andrew DeCilles return with a candid conversation about what 2026 may hold for the market research and insights industry. Drawing from months of conversations with researchers, technology leaders, and clients, the hosts share a grounded but optimistic view of an industry entering a period of economic repositioning, technological acceleration, and rising expectations for data quality.

The discussion opens with reflections on personal and professional goals before shifting into a wide-ranging outlook on volatility, global and political uncertainty, and how those forces shape research budgets and decision-making. Brian and Andrew explore why market research is well positioned to benefit from artificial intelligence, even as pricing pressure, consolidation, and competition continue to intensify.

Key Takeaways:

• The economic and political factors shaping research budgets in 2026

• Why artificial intelligence may reduce cost and time while raising expectations for quality

• The rising importance of verified and high-quality online samples

• The growth of synthetic data and hybrid research approaches

• How the role of the researcher is shifting toward insight and strategy

• Industry consolidation and what it means for agencies and panels

• Why innovation and experimentation will define competitive advantage in 2026

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