Artificial Intelligence is Redefining Black Friday Shopping
The most popular shopping event of the year, Black Friday, has seen a drastic shift in consumer behavior with the help of artificial intelligence. According to Adobe Analytics, U.S. consumers spent a record $11.8 billion online on Black Friday, and another $14.2 billion are expected to be spent on Cyber Monday. This surge in online shopping can be attributed to A.I.-driven tools that offer personalized gift recommendations, track prices, and facilitate seamless checkout processes.
Shoppers are increasingly relying on chatbots to research products and find deals, with A.I.-driven traffic to retail sites increasing by 805 percent year-over-year. In categories such as video games, appliances, electronics, toys, personal care, and baby products, shoppers who found retail sites via A.I. services were more likely to make a purchase compared to those arriving from non-A.I. traffic sources.
"The complexity of consumer choices is vast," notes Luca Cian, a professor at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. "A.I. simplifies this process by providing numerous options and recommendations."
The growth of A.I.-powered shopping has been rapid, with Adobe predicting that online spending across the 2025 holiday season will reach $253.4 billion. The technology is gaining traction among younger generations, with 61 percent of Gen Z and 57 percent of Millennials using A.I. tools to shop.
Shopping assistants are evolving rapidly, with companies like Adobe, Salesforce, OpenAI, Amazon, and Google introducing new features that enhance the shopping experience. For instance, OpenAI's instant checkout feature allows users to purchase products from various merchants without leaving the platform. Amazon's upgraded assistant can automatically make purchases when prices fall within a set budget.
However, experts caution that as A.I. becomes more prevalent in shopping, concerns arise about its potential impact on consumers. "Shopping can also be an enjoyable and enriching experience," notes Cian. "If we move everything towards using A.I., we may lose that excitement." As the technology continues to advance, it remains to be seen how model developers will monetize these tools and whether shoppers will become overly dependent on them.
The most popular shopping event of the year, Black Friday, has seen a drastic shift in consumer behavior with the help of artificial intelligence. According to Adobe Analytics, U.S. consumers spent a record $11.8 billion online on Black Friday, and another $14.2 billion are expected to be spent on Cyber Monday. This surge in online shopping can be attributed to A.I.-driven tools that offer personalized gift recommendations, track prices, and facilitate seamless checkout processes.
Shoppers are increasingly relying on chatbots to research products and find deals, with A.I.-driven traffic to retail sites increasing by 805 percent year-over-year. In categories such as video games, appliances, electronics, toys, personal care, and baby products, shoppers who found retail sites via A.I. services were more likely to make a purchase compared to those arriving from non-A.I. traffic sources.
"The complexity of consumer choices is vast," notes Luca Cian, a professor at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. "A.I. simplifies this process by providing numerous options and recommendations."
The growth of A.I.-powered shopping has been rapid, with Adobe predicting that online spending across the 2025 holiday season will reach $253.4 billion. The technology is gaining traction among younger generations, with 61 percent of Gen Z and 57 percent of Millennials using A.I. tools to shop.
Shopping assistants are evolving rapidly, with companies like Adobe, Salesforce, OpenAI, Amazon, and Google introducing new features that enhance the shopping experience. For instance, OpenAI's instant checkout feature allows users to purchase products from various merchants without leaving the platform. Amazon's upgraded assistant can automatically make purchases when prices fall within a set budget.
However, experts caution that as A.I. becomes more prevalent in shopping, concerns arise about its potential impact on consumers. "Shopping can also be an enjoyable and enriching experience," notes Cian. "If we move everything towards using A.I., we may lose that excitement." As the technology continues to advance, it remains to be seen how model developers will monetize these tools and whether shoppers will become overly dependent on them.