The fluorescent lights of Cashew Research’s engineering lab hummed, a low thrum competing with the clatter of keyboards. It was early December 2025, and the team was deep in a code review, heads bent over screens displaying lines of Python. Their mission: to refine the AI algorithms driving Cashew’s approach to market research, a sector currently valued at $90 billion.
Cashew Research, as reported by TechCrunch on December 9, 2025, is betting big on AI to automate the market research process. The goal is to collect real-world data from humans, a key differentiator in a field often reliant on surveys and focus groups. The company is positioning itself to disrupt the traditional market research industry by offering faster, more cost-effective insights.
“We’re aiming to cut the time it takes to get actionable data by 70%,” said Sarah Chen, Cashew’s VP of Engineering, during a recent internal presentation. “That means going from months to weeks, or even days, for some projects.” The challenge, as the engineers in the lab knew, was ensuring the AI could accurately interpret and analyze the nuances of human behavior and preferences.
The team was focusing on the AI’s ability to handle unstructured data – social media posts, customer reviews, and even casual conversations. This data, when processed correctly, could offer insights into market trends and consumer behavior. It was a race against time, as competitors were also developing AI-driven market research tools, but Cashew believed its focus on real-world data gave it a competitive edge.
An analyst from Forrester, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that “the market is ripe for disruption. The established players are slow to adapt, and there’s a huge opportunity for companies that can offer faster, more accurate insights.”
The success of Cashew’s AI hinged on its ability to collect and interpret data accurately, which is no easy feat. But the team was confident, fueled by the potential to reshape an industry and capture a significant share of that $90 billion market.
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