AI-Powered Social Listening: A Practical Guide for Product Innovation

In today’s digital-first world, innovation doesn’t just start in a lab—it starts on TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit. Social media has become the pulse of consumer interest, where microtrends can rapidly snowball into major market opportunities. One standout example? Kroger’s new Private Selection Cherry Harvest collection, inspired by the viral rise of “cherry red” on social media, and in this case, TikTok.

The beauty of this trend-inspired innovation is that it didn’t come from a high-tech lab—it came from social listening. And thanks to the rise of affordable AI tools, even small and mid-sized brands can do the same.