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AI tools can help holiday shoppers allocate a budget, generate gift ideas, compare products and search for deals. The source report cites surveys showing interest in using AI, but warns that recommendations, reviews and prices can be inaccurate or outdated.
A Kiplinger report describes how shoppers can use AI tools to plan holiday spending, brainstorm gifts, compare products and search for deals, while urging them to verify prices and product details before buying. The advice comes as surveys cited in the report suggest some consumers plan to use AI for holiday purchases, though estimates vary widely.
AI can help shoppers start with a budget rather than a list of products. Brad Jashinsky, a director analyst at Gartner, recommends providing details such as the total spending limit and the number and types of recipients. A shopper could then ask the tool to suggest amounts for each person and account for costs such as taxes, wrapping paper and cards. Follow-up prompts can adjust the allocation or request gift suggestions within it.
For gift ideas, Kelly Askew, Accenture’s global retail lead, advises including three elements: context about the recipient, the kind of gift wanted, and a clear request for what the AI should produce. Age, interests, relationship and price limit can make a shortlist more relevant. Shoppers can also add constraints after an initial answer, such as excluding items the recipient cannot use or does not want.
Once shoppers have a category in mind, AI can help compare products against stated requirements, a topic explored in retail’s AI shopping debate. The report suggests asking for a limited number of options and naming must-have features and deal breakers, then requesting a comparison table. AI may also search across retailers for a product’s current price, shipping costs or discount codes. Retailers including Amazon, Walmart, Lowe’s and Sephora also offer their own shopping assistants on websites or apps, which can answer questions about products or suggest items.
Where AI Can Save Shopping Time
Holiday shopping can involve balancing a fixed budget, many recipients and a large range of products. AI may make early research quicker by turning those constraints into a shortlist or a comparison request, rather than requiring shoppers to repeat searches across stores. Stephanie Carls, a retail analyst at RetailMeNot, said AI could be helpful for sticking to a budget and getting product recommendations during the holiday season.
The potential benefit is practical, not a guarantee of lower prices or better gifts. AI-generated suggestions can give shoppers a starting point, but it does not remove the need to judge whether an item fits the recipient or whether a deal is genuine. The report cites a SmartCustomer survey in which about one-third of shoppers said they regretted an AI-recommended purchase. The survey details and its definition of regret are not provided in the supplied material.
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Survey Interest, With Caveats
The report cites several surveys that found between 29% and 65% of consumers planned to use AI to help with holiday purchases this year, from finding gift ideas to locating deals. It also cites marketing firm LDWW, which reported that nearly seven in 10 consumers already use AI tools to assist them while shopping. These figures refer to different surveys and measures; they should not be treated as one combined estimate or as proof that AI improves shopping outcomes.
Shopping assistants are not limited to general-purpose AI services. Some retailers have integrated tools into their own sites and apps, where customers can ask about products and request suggestions. The report’s examples range from finding a sweater within a budget to comparing laptops with a specified port and price ceiling. Such tools can help narrow choices, but the report says shoppers should confirm details on the seller’s page.
“People are often overwhelmed by the number of choices or are trying to buy for someone they might not know well.”
— Kelly Askew, global retail lead at Accenture
Check Prices and Product Claims
AI responses may include outdated prices or product information, and the report warns that tools can distort product reviews. It does not identify which AI services were tested, how frequently their information is wrong, or whether any one retailer’s assistant is more reliable than another. A deal or recommendation shown by a tool should not be assumed to be current or accurate until checked on the retailer’s page.
The reported survey estimates also have limits in the supplied material: the survey methods, dates, sample sizes and definitions are not specified. The cited figures indicate reported interest or use, not that AI necessarily saves money, improves gift choices or works equally well for every shopper.
Verify Before You Buy
Shoppers can use AI to generate options, then check the final details directly with the seller. Before purchasing, confirm the current price, shipping costs, product specifications and return terms on the retailer’s listing. Review claims should also be checked against the original product page or other reliable sources, especially when a purchase depends on a particular feature.
The report offers no specific forecast or next milestone for the adoption of shopping AI. For the coming holiday season, its practical guidance is to give tools clear constraints, refine the results with follow-up questions and treat their answers as research assistance—not as a substitute for checking a purchase.
Key Questions
What can AI help with during holiday shopping?
AI can help make a spending plan, brainstorm gifts, narrow product choices, compare options and search for prices or discount codes. Its usefulness depends on the information and constraints shoppers provide.
What should I include in an AI gift prompt?
Include relevant details about the recipient, the kind of gift you want and a specific request, such as a set number of ideas under a stated price limit. Interests, age, location and items to avoid can help refine suggestions.
Can I rely on AI for current prices and reviews?
No. The report warns that AI can return outdated prices or product information and may distort reviews. Check the retailer’s listing before deciding whether to buy.
Do the surveys show that AI improves holiday purchases?
No. The cited surveys describe reported use or plans to use AI, not proof that it improves shopping outcomes. The report also cites a survey finding that about one-third of shoppers regretted an AI-recommended purchase.
Source: kiplinger.com
