Artificial intelligence (AI) is sweeping global commerce, with an estimated 1.7 billion people worldwide reporting having used AI tools, and 500 million to 600 million people using them daily, according to data from Menlo Ventures.
Additionally, more than half of the study’s 330 respondents reported trying new brands because of AI recommendations.
Conveo interviewed people in eight markets around the world for its study: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, and India. The company uses AI-moderated interview technology for its qualitative market research.
All told, more than 97 percent of the Conveo survey respondents reported that AI has some degree of influence on their shopping behavior, with 38 percent saying it influenced them a lot or completely.
An Attest survey of 9,500 working-age respondents in eight countries from March 2024 also found that consumers were using AI when shopping online. Attest found that despite reporting having some feelings of uncertainty or mistrust about AI, consumers were open to using chatbots on brands’ websites, and more than 40 percent were willing to use ChatGPT to research their purchases.
Industry experts say it’s easy to use AI to streamline and improve the shopping experience.
“Instead of making a list of all the items you want to purchase this holiday season, having 10+ tabs open on your website, and using hours to price compare, you can simply use AI tools to do this work for you,” Bobby Ghoshal, CEO at Dupe.com, a consumer shopping platform, told NTD News.
With the holidays here, consumers can leverage AI in multiple ways, retail experts say.
Find a Favorite Chatbot
Rather than using a standard search engine like Google to look for gifts, an AI shopping assistant or chatbot can pull items based on your budget, profile, and the context you provide.
“If you need direction on what to buy, you can explain who you’re shopping for, and AI will generate creative suggestions based on trends and interests,” Destiny Chatman, a consumer analyst at TopCashback.com, told NTD News. “To avoid overspending, you can tell AI your budget, who you’re shopping for, and a few details about your gift recipients. It will create a comprehensive list of suggestions that match your parameters.”
AI Chat Assistants
Big retailers already see enormous potential for AI and are building their own tools to aid shoppers.
“AI platforms built specifically for shopping are growing,” Chatman said. “Shop.app by Shopify is a helpful chat assistant that answers shopping questions based on your preferences. ZuPick is another option that compares deals across retailers and highlights smart buying choices in real time.”
Many retailers also offer built-in AI assistants. “Amazon Rufus, for example, provides tailored product suggestions based on your purchase history and the retailer’s inventory,” Chatman said.
Plug in the Best Prompts
The more direct and specific your AI requests, the better.
“You want to use AI prompts to filter, not just search,” Steve Zisk, senior product marketing manager at Redpoint Global, a data-based customer engagement strategy provider, told NTD. “That lets AI compare prices across retailers instantly.”
Cut Your Retail Review Time
AI does a great job of condensing information while still getting the point across to shoppers. AI summarizes reviews so that you don’t spend a long time reading all of the feedback about a waffle maker, Zisk noted.
3 Priorities for AI-Assisted Shopping
When choosing the AI apps and tools that will meet your unique retail needs, select tools that do three things well:
- Price monitoring. AI that can track a specific item across multiple sites and alert the shopper to authentic price drops, rather than dealing with fake “sales” when the original price is artificially shown as higher, Zisk said.
- Cut to the chase. AI that can quickly take a long list of reviews and clearly spell out five things the shopper actually needs to know so they can make an informed shopping choice, Zisk said.
- Choose one or two AI shopping assistants you can rely on. The best AI retail assistants rapidly check stock, shipping details, return policies, and the total cost, including all taxes, shipping, and expedited options. “That way, the shopper has a 360-degree understanding of what they’re getting before they hit ‘buy,’” Zisk added.
“Smart AI tools can do all of the work for you, reducing shopping anxiety and post-purchase regret,” Ghoshal said.
Ghoshal added he knows people are hesitant to adopt new shopping strategies, but AI tools are easy to use. “Once consumers understand how to use them, they’ll save infinite time and money this holiday shopping season,” he said.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the interviewees. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. NTD does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. NTD holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.
