Post by Institute of Behavioral Science and Technology (IBT-HSG)

Last week, the Institute of Behavioral Science and Technology (IBT-HSG), along with Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and Esade, hosted the Consumers+Technology Dialogue 2026 in Zermatt! Over three days, researchers from Europe, North America, and Asia gathered in Switzerland around this year's theme: the past, present, and future of consumers and technology—how consumer behavior and emerging technologies are (re)shaping each other. ⏮️ The Past Emanuel de Bellis opened by mapping the field: which technology clusters consumer research has studied since 2000, and how that focus compares with the technologies the media has covered. ⏺️ The Present Clemens Stachl on how smartphone data can reveal everyday consumer behavior, and the privacy questions that come with it. Jacob Goldenberg on inferences from facial information and whether a single photo carries enough to model people's traits and behavior. Bernd Schmitt on the use of AI in the research process, with co-authors Julian De Freitas, Reto Hofstetter, Shuyi Hao, and Emanuel de Bellis. ⏭️ The Future Carey Morewedge on why we value preserving everyone's digital legacy more than our own. Phyliss Gai on how AI is shaping the way we see reality, ourselves, and each other. We closed with three discussion panels, on the future of meaning with Nicole Mead, autonomy with Christian Hildebrand, and relationships with Julian De Freitas. Thank you to everyone who presented and participated. We are grateful for the depth of the conversations, the time together on the mountain, and the overwhelmingly positive response since. A special thank you to Emanuel de Bellis, Sabou Stocker, Anne-Kathrin Klesse, and Ana Valenzuela for organizing this year's CTD. School of Management SoM-HSG University of St.Gallen