A recent survey released by Visa has highlighted the growing trend of American consumers relying on artificial intelligence (AI) for various purchasing tasks. From price comparisons and finding discounts to selecting the perfect gifts, more people are integrating AI assistance into their shopping experiences. Notably, the survey found that 54% of American adults have utilized AI for at least one shopping-related task, an increase from 47% the previous year.
The study, conducted by Visa and published on October 30, reveals that 41% of American adults would not disclose to gift recipients that AI was used to help pick out their gifts. This trend is particularly pronounced among younger consumers, with over 80% of Generation Z respondents willing to accept AI assistance, and 73% comfortable with AI helping to choose gifts.
Despite Americans’ growing willingness to employ AI for shopping tasks, there remains a significant hesitation when it comes to handling payments through AI. Another Visa study on consumer trust indicated that only 23% of Americans feel comfortable letting generative AI handle their transactions. Nevertheless, a reassuring 61% of respondents trust Visa to provide security for AI-driven payment transactions.
The findings from this survey showcase that Americans are keen to delegate tasks to AI that save money and time. A substantial 61% of respondents are willing to use AI for product price comparisons, 59% would like it to check product availability, 57% would let AI search for discounts, and 54% would welcome AI in recommending gifts.
Rising living costs have driven consumers in the United States to be more frugal when shopping. An impressive 84% of survey participants reported taking steps in the past year to cope with increased living expenses. Specifically, 47% have actively sought discounts, 35% have cut back on non-essential spending, and 33% have switched to lower-priced brands.
In addition to utilizing AI for shopping, the survey also uncovered that 30% of American adults plan to purchase at least one gift from an overseas seller during this year’s holiday shopping season, with more than half of Generation Z respondents indicating they would do the same.
When asked why they would choose to shop for overseas products, 32% of participants cited product quality as their primary concern, 31% were looking for more unique gifts, and 25% were primarily motivated by the prospect of better pricing.
This survey was commissioned by Visa and conducted by Morning Consult, which interviewed 1,016 American adults from September 26 to October 2. The overall sampling error for the survey is ±3 percentage points.