Join us for an eye-opening talk and discover how nonverbal and artificial intelligence are transforming qualitative research for smarter product development. You don’t want to miss this!
Date/Time:
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 7pm PST online via Zoom
Speaker:
David M. Schneer, Ph.D. / CEO, Merrill Research
Topic:
What AI and Body Language Can Reveal About What Customers Want in a Product
Description:
In face-to-face interactions, sometimes what research participants are telling you and how they’re really feeling are two different things.
In this provocative talk, David Schneer—author of BACKBONE: Surviving the Road Less Quantified—reveals how the fusion of nonverbal intelligence and artificial intelligence is revolutionizing qualitative product development research. Drawing from groundbreaking work with some of the world’s largest companies, he shares how this innovative approach has uncovered deep emotional insights—shattering assumptions about what stakeholders care about.
One standout case we’ll cover: an $11B semiconductor giant that questioned whether its young design engineers could ever form an emotional bond with a brand in order to stay and grow with the company. David will share how he and his team designed a seminal study that incorporated AI and the interpretation of nonverbal communication into their qualitative research. He’ll also share the actual findings. The stunning results not only proved the company wrong but have since shaped product strategies in healthcare, cybersecurity, and beyond. This session offers a bold new lens for anyone who communicates with customers, other stakeholders, or teams.
About the Speaker:
David M. Schneer, co-founder and CEO of Merrill Research, helps companies bring new products to market and hone their strategic communications. To this end, the company utilizes both qualitative and qualitative research methodologies. As a behavioral scientist and nonverbal intelligence expert, he delves into the motivations behind consumer behavior, deciphering the subtle cues that reveal true preferences.
With over three decades of experience, David continues to shape the landscape of qualitative research by incorporating not only body language into qualitative research but also the use of AI to back him up. This produces a highly accurate gauge of what research participants are truly saying.
Prior to co-founding Merrill Research, David helped establish and manage the research department of the renowned public relations and marketing firm Regis McKenna. He worked there from 1978 to 1986 before starting Merrill Research.
David earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in Modern American Literature from the University of California, Berkeley. He also earned a PhD in Religious Studies from the Trinity Seminary and Trinity College of the Bible. Connect with David at https://www.linkedin.com/in/schneer1merrillresearch