2026: The Year Consumer AI Replaces WebMD and Tripadvisor?

As consumer AI inches closer to mainstream adoption, the apps we've relied on for decades are facing an existential threat from chatbots and digital concierges.

Vanessa Larco of Premise has positioned 2026 as a pivotal year for consumer AI, where legacy applications like WebMD and TripAdvisor could either evolve or be subsumed by more integrated AI platforms.

The central issue remains whether these standalone services can maintain relevance in an ecosystem increasingly dominated by multifunctional AI assistants.

Startup innovation is now centered on identifying AI-driven niches that can outperform traditional consumer technology. The ongoing discourse at CES 2026 reflects the industry's anticipation of how AI will reshape user experiences and service delivery.