Smith Research

Zipei Lu and P.K. Kannan’s forthcoming Journal of Marketing Research study introduces a Transformer-based AI model that accurately predicts digital customer behavior and delivers personalized marketing insights across complex, multi-touchpoint journeys, outperforming traditional methods in both…

Marketing PhD student Ziting Liao, with faculty Liye Ma and Wendy Moe, developed a model predicting purchase intent from AI assistant interactions. By analyzing language patterns, the tool helps advertisers better target consumers and optimize strategies based on intent.

Research co-authored by associate professor Dan McCarthy finds that online sports betting legalization has led to a rise in irresponsible gambling, especially among lower-income individuals. The study highlights financial risks and calls for safeguards to mitigate potential societal harm.

Joseph Reiff, assistant professor of marketing, co-invented The Retirement Visualizer™, an AI tool using GPT and DALL·E to help individuals vividly imagine retirement goals. By making the future feel tangible, it aims to boost motivation and increase retirement savings.

App crashes shorten user sessions and reduce content consumption, says Smith’s Michel Wedel. While a single crash boosts engagement, frequent failures can drive users away. Developers should release updates cautiously, target resilient users, and take responsibility to maintain trust.

A study by Smith professor Michael Trusov and Sanghwa Kim finds South Korean consumers spend more on hedonic goods when air pollution rises, seeking mood-lifting purchases. Published in the Journal of Marketing, the research suggests implications for marketers and policymakers in responsible…

Global businesses use AR and VR to engage consumers, but cultural differences impact success. Smith professor P.K. Kannan’s research finds foreign brands face challenges in South Korea’s XR market. Companies must tailor strategies, choose technology wisely, and build local brand communities.

Self-preferencing by large tech companies, like Amazon, faces scrutiny, with Congress considering the AICOA and OAMA bills to restrict the practice. Research by Smith professor Bobby Zhou suggests these regulations could unintentionally raise consumer prices by reducing competition between sellers.

Finance professor Agustin Hurtado’s AI research highlights racial disparities in mortgage lending, while Information Systems researchers study AI chatbots' impact on mental health counseling. Marketing professor Michel Wedel explores predicting decisions via eye-tracking, and accounting professor…

Professor Michel Wedel and team introduce RETINA, an AI-driven eye-tracking innovation predicting decisions from eye movements in seconds. Detailed in 'Predicting Consumer Choice From Raw Eye‑Movement Data,' the technology offers insights for marketing and beyond.