Why You Care
Ever wonder if AI could make your holiday shopping easier? Imagine finding the gift without endless scrolling. Adobe predicts a massive 520% growth in AI-assisted online shopping for the 2025 U.S. holiday season, according to the announcement. This means your digital shopping experience is about to get a whole lot smarter. Are you ready for AI to help you find the best deals and gifts?
This isn’t just about futuristic tech; it’s about how you’ll save time and money. Your online shopping will become more personalized and efficient. This trend could fundamentally change how you approach gift-giving and bargain hunting.
What Actually Happened
Adobe Analytics, a division of Adobe, released a new report detailing its predictions for the 2025 U.S. holiday shopping season. The company expects online sales to hit $253.4 billion, a 5.3% increase year-over-year, as mentioned in the release. These predictions are based on analyzing over 1 trillion visits to U.S. retail sites. This data covers 100 million SKUs (stock keeping units — unique product identifiers) across 18 product categories. Adobe’s analytics software is widely used by major online retailers, giving them deep insights into consumer behavior.
The most striking forecast is the boom in generative AI-powered shopping. The company reports that AI traffic is set to rise by an astonishing 520% year-over-year. This peak in AI usage is expected in the 10 days leading up to Thanksgiving. This follows a significant 1,300% increase in AI traffic to U.S. retail sites observed in 2024.
Why This Matters to You
This surge in AI-assisted shopping means a more streamlined and intelligent experience for you. You’ll likely encounter AI tools more frequently when browsing online stores. These tools will help you make better purchasing decisions.
For example, imagine you’re looking for a specific type of toy for a child. Instead of sifting through hundreds of options, an AI assistant could quickly narrow down choices based on age, interests, and budget. The research shows that consumers will largely use AI for research ahead of purchases. A survey of 5,000 U.S. consumers revealed key uses for AI in shopping:
- 53% plan to use AI for general research.
- 40% would use AI for product recommendations.
- 36% seek AI assistance for finding deals.
- 30% look to AI for gift inspiration.
This indicates a shift towards AI as a personal shopping assistant. “Consumers are increasingly turning to AI for smarter shopping, from discovering new products to finding the best prices,” the team revealed. This means you could spend less time searching and more time enjoying the holidays. How will AI change your approach to finding the gift this year?
The Surprising Finding
Here’s an interesting twist: despite the massive growth in AI usage, consumers aren’t just letting AI make purchases for them. The company expects consumers to largely use AI for research ahead of purchases. This challenges the assumption that AI will fully automate the shopping process. Instead, it acts as a guide.
This finding is surprising because many might assume AI would handle the entire transaction. However, the data suggests a more collaborative role for AI. It’s more about augmenting your decision-making process. Consumers want AI to help them gather information and identify options. They still want to make the final choice themselves. This shows a preference for human oversight in the purchasing journey. It’s not about handing over control, but about gaining better insights.
What Happens Next
We can expect to see more AI tools integrated into e-commerce platforms. Retailers will likely roll out new features throughout 2025. These will focus on personalized recommendations and deal aggregation. The period leading up to Thanksgiving 2025 will be a essential time for AI adoption. This is when AI traffic is predicted to peak.
For example, online retailers might introduce AI chatbots that can answer complex product questions. They could also offer virtual try-on experiences powered by AI. Our advice for readers is to experiment with these new AI tools. See how they can enhance your shopping experience. The industry implications are significant, pushing retailers to innovate rapidly. They must adapt to this new consumer behavior. This shift will likely lead to more competitive pricing and diverse product offerings. This will ultimately benefit you, the shopper.