What used to start in the shop window is now happening in the background: advertising, consumption and purchasing behaviour are being changed by AI - often without us even noticing. More and more people expect bricks-and-mortar retail to disappear. At the same time, they are experiencing how personalised recommendations and automated processes are shaping everyday life. How much control do we want to retain and how consciously will we shop tomorrow?

Surveillance, security, control – these are issues that increasingly shape the everyday lives of many people. Yet, despite digital innovations and new threats, the desire for personal freedom remains strong. Citizens expect protection without sacrificing their self-determination. How security and freedom can be reconciled in the future will be one of the central challenges of our time.

Smartphones are ubiquitous – and yet many Germans long for places where they can consciously put them aside. Cafés, bars, and restaurants should once again be spaces for genuine encounters and undivided attention. The yearning for digital-free time is growing, as a response to a life lived in constant online mode. What is considered an exception today could become a mark of quality tomorrow.

Sixty-three percent of Germans expect digitalization to profoundly change the world of work. But alongside the opportunities for new jobs, concerns about job losses are also growing. Not all professions are affected equally – adaptability and a willingness to learn will be particularly important in the future. The future lies not in competing with machines, but in intelligent collaboration. Education remains the key to participation.

Personal advice remains valued, but willingness to pay is declining. While many customers understand the need for a consultation fee, fewer and fewer are generally willing to spend more on it. Independent research is increasingly replacing sales pitches. At the same time, the demand for quality, independence, and transparency is growing. How is consulting changing, and what will be important in the future?.