AI-powered shopping has rapidly moved into the mainstream, recording unprecedented growth in spending and adoption worldwide. According to Mastercard, AI-assisted purchasing is becoming a standard part of the retail experience, with Walmart now enabling customers to shop directly through ChatGPT.
“Consumers are using new tools to get to what they need faster,” said eMarketer analyst Suzy Davidkhanian, highlighting AI’s growing role in reducing decision fatigue. Salesforce reported that AI and digital agents influenced $14.2 billion in global online sales on Black Friday, including $3 billion from the United States.
AI Shopping Surge
A recent survey of more than 4,000 consumers across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and the UAE revealed that over 40% of users already rely on AI tools for shopping. Adoption is particularly high among young consumers, with 61% of Gen Z and 57% of millennials using AI in their buying journey.
Half of Gen Z and 49% of millennials said they would allow AI to handle all of their gift purchases to avoid stress. Younger shoppers also showed strong confidence in AI’s judgment, with 51% of Gen Z and 55% of millennials depending on AI for unique, personalized recommendations.
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Popular applications include curated product suggestions, price comparisons, and automated review summaries. Mastercard concludes that AI is becoming a personalized shopping assistant capable of understanding individual needs, preferences, and budgets.
Record Cyber Monday Expected
Following a strong Black Friday performance, analysts expect Cyber Monday to hit record sales. Adobe forecasts $14.2 billion in spending — a 6.3% year-over-year increase — making it the biggest online shopping day of 2025. Electronics are projected to offer the steepest discounts at around 30%, with apparel and computers also expected to see major price cuts.
