What is synthetic research?

Synthetic research uses AI-powered personas that simulate how real buyers, customers, or market segments would respond to your research questions. It produces directional signal — insights to sharpen your hypotheses — before you invest in real primary fieldwork. Gather Synthetic runs AI-moderated interviews across any audience archetype in minutes, not weeks.

How is synthetic research different from real research?

Synthetic research generates directional signal using AI personas, while real primary research collects data from actual people. Synthetic pre-research is faster (minutes vs. weeks), cheaper, and ideal for hypothesis generation and stakeholder alignment. It is not statistically valid and should be used to focus and prioritize real fieldwork, not replace it. Gather offers both synthetic pre-research and real AI-moderated interviews with actual respondents.

What types of research can Gather Synthetic run?

Gather Synthetic supports 14 study types: Brand Perception, Product Feedback, Concept Testing, Competitive Intelligence, CX/NPS Deep Dive, Messaging & Claims Testing, Win/Loss Analysis, Market Segmentation, Pricing Research, Ad & Creative Testing, Customer Journey Mapping, Feature Prioritization, Churn & Retention Analysis, and Audience Discovery.

How much does synthetic research cost?

The first 5 synthetic interviews are free. After that, B2C audience interviews cost $0.50 each and B2B audience interviews cost $5.00 each. There is no subscription required.

How accurate is synthetic research?

Synthetic research is directional, not statistically accurate. Confidence scores reflect internal AI response consistency, not statistical significance. Quantitative projections carry a ±15–20% margin of error. Treat findings as educated hypotheses to validate with real primary research, not as definitive measurements.

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Coffeehouse experience · PUBLIC RESEARCH BRIEF

StarbucksWhat brings the occasional customer back?

In its September 10, 2026 Back to Starbucks update, Starbucks described investments in service, staffing and the coffeehouse experience, alongside a reduction in discount-led offers. These are company statements, not findings from a Gather customer study.

Sources checked 2026-09-18 · Simulation results not yet generated

Test a question in Gather ↗Explore fictional demo →

CHANGE ONE THING. LEARN WHAT MATTERS.

Three questions for the GTM team.

For Starbucks, which message would make occasional customers reconsider: a welcoming coffeehouse or a more reliable pickup experience? Hold prices and products constant, and identify which occasions change the answer.

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How might less reliance on discount-led offers affect Starbucks consideration among value-sensitive and experience-led buyers? Treat audience types as hypotheses, not measured segments.

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What evidence would persuade a lapsed Starbucks customer that service has improved enough to return? Distinguish one trial from a durable habit.

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PROPOSED AUDIENCE

Who should weigh in?

US adults who buy specialty coffee, spanning regular Starbucks customers, occasional or lapsed customers and people who choose other cafés. Include mobile pickup, drive-thru and sit-down occasions. Proposed audience only; prevalence is unmeasured.

TWO TIME HORIZONS

Trial today. A habit tomorrow?

Near term · 0–90 days

Test reconsideration and first return by buying occasion. Ask what observable service proof matters before assuming an operational announcement reaches customers.

Longer term · 3–12 months

Explore whether repeated service consistency could change preference once novelty wears off. Keep pickup convenience and in-café experience separate.

What would make the result actionable?

Track lapsed-customer return and repeat visits alongside actual service times, order accuracy, occasion and spend. Compare equivalent locations and time periods before attributing change to a message.

A Gather simulation returns hypothetical customer reactions. Quantifying revenue, traffic or retention needs actual business inputs and validation against observed behavior.

Public sources

Two years of Back to Starbucks ↗Published 2026-09-10