Friday, 9 October 2026
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Only one in three US shoppers would let AI pick holiday deals

A YouGov survey shows only about one in three US adults would use AI to help with Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping, with lots of caution around accuracy and bias.

Talk With Tech Newsroom
Person using a laptop with shopping icons on screen
  1. 01What readers are willing to use AI for
  2. 02Why trust and accuracy matter
  3. 03What this means for everyday shoppers
  4. 04What to do now
  5. 05Quick answers

The short version

  • A YouGov survey finds less than half of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers in the US plan to use AI to help with holiday shopping.
  • Planned AI use has grown from 16% to 34% in the last year, with most users sticking to discovery and research rather than buying.
  • Trust remains a major concern: many worry AI can give outdated information or biased recommendations, especially at checkout.
  • Readers can still use AI carefully for deal discovery, but should avoid sharing payment details and double-check prices.
Quick read · 1 min

A new YouGov survey finds only about a third of US adults plan to use AI for Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping. While AI use for deal discovery is rising, many shoppers remain wary of outdated information and biased suggestions. The takeaway: use AI to filter options and track deals, but don’t let it handle payments or final checkout yet. Double-check prices and confirm details manually.

  • AI helps with discovery and research.
  • Trust and accuracy concerns slow adoption.
  • Protect personal data and verify every deal before buying.

AI can speed up holiday shopping, but a new YouGov survey shows most US adults aren’t ready to let bots handle purchases. Fewer than half of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers expect to use AI to shop, underscoring a gap between what the tech can do and what people are comfortable handing over.

Still, the numbers show momentum. The share of US adults who plan to use AI to navigate sales has risen in a year, from 16% to 34%. Among those who used AI for shopping last year, 92% say they’ll keep using it or use it more this year. But many shoppers remain cautious about AI handling the checkout, with concerns about accuracy and bias lingering.

01

What readers are willing to use AI for

People who plan to use AI tend to rely on it for discovery: finding deals, researching options, and comparing products. Fewer are comfortable letting AI handle the actual purchase. In numbers: 43% would use AI to help find the best deal, 37% to track price changes, and 34% to compare similar items. Only 9% would let AI add items to a cart, and 4% would permit an AI-made purchase without confirmation.

Phone displaying price comparison tools for products
02

Why trust and accuracy matter

The big obstacle is trust. More than half of respondents worry AI could give outdated or incorrect information, and 51% worry about biased or sponsored recommendations. Shoppers fear results could be steered by advertisers or paid placements rather than the best deal, which helps explain why many still verify details themselves.

03

What this means for everyday shoppers

AI can still be a time-saver for deal-hunting and product comparisons during a busy season. But protect your data: don’t share payment details or sensitive information with AI tools, and always double-check prices and terms. Think of AI as a smart search helper, not a substitute for your own judgment when you’re ready to buy.

Person reviewing deals on a tablet while wearing headphones
04

What to do now

If you decide to use AI this season, follow these steps:

  • Let AI filter options and surface deals, but don’t rely on it to approve purchases automatically.
  • Keep shipping and payment details offline until you’re ready to check out.
  • Compare prices across several sites and confirm any time-limited offers before clicking buy.

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05

Quick answers

Will AI replace my shopping entirely?

No. Most shoppers still want to do discovery and final checks themselves, using AI as a helper rather than a shopping automator.

Is it safe to use AI for holiday deals?

AI can help you find deals, but guard personal data and verify prices and terms before purchasing.

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