How A.I. Is Changing Black Friday Shopping Forever

The Dark Side of Black Friday Shopping: How AI is Taking Over Your Wallet

This Black Friday, US consumers have pulled out all the stops to splurge on online shopping, with sales reaching a staggering $11.8 billion and expected to continue into Cyber Monday, where an additional $14.2 billion is predicted. At the heart of this spending frenzy lies Artificial Intelligence (AI) – a powerful tool that's revolutionizing the way we shop.

Chatbots have become the go-to resource for holiday shoppers, with A.I.-driven traffic to retail sites surging 805 percent year-over-year, according to Adobe Analytics. This trend is particularly strong in categories like electronics and personal care, where shoppers are using AI-powered tools to compare prices and find deals.

But why the sudden shift towards AI-assisted shopping? According to Luca Cian, a professor at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business, "A.I. simplifies a lot of our choices." With so many products available, it's no wonder that shoppers are turning to A.I. tools to help narrow down their options.

The rise of AI-powered shopping is also linked to the broader surge in holiday e-commerce, even amidst economic pressures. In the first 23 days of November, US consumers spent $79.7 billion online – a 7.5 percent increase from last year. And with A.I.-assisted shopping on the rise, Adobe predicts that online spending across the 2025 holiday season will reach a whopping $253.4 billion.

But what's driving this trend? Cian attributes it to improvements in previously "clunky" features, as well as tight budgets motivating shoppers to lean on A.I. for deals. And with younger generations like Gen Z and Millennials already using AI tools to shop, the future of holiday shopping looks increasingly digital.

As A.I. continues to shape the retail landscape, brands are jumping on the bandwagon, introducing their own AI-powered shopping assistants. Walmart's Sparky A.I. assistant provides personalized recommendations, compares options, and synthesizes reviews – while Target has introduced similar tools to help shoppers find specialized gifts through guided prompts.

But amidst all this change, there's a warning: as Cian notes, "Shopping can also be an enjoyable and enriching experience." If we move everything towards using A.I., will we lose that excitement? Only time will tell.

Ugh, AI taking over our wallets is just crazy! I mean, I love saving money as much as the next person, but do we really need to rely on chatbots to help us find deals? It feels like we're just handing over control of our shopping experience to a bunch of algorithms . And don't even get me started on how personalized recommendations are basically just tailored ads at this point .

I also think it's wild that people are already using AI tools to shop, especially Gen Z and Millennials . It feels like we're missing out on the whole experience of browsing physical stores or talking to actual sales reps. I mean, shopping is supposed to be fun, not just a quick transaction . And what happens when these AI-powered shopping assistants become even more advanced? Are we going to lose that human touch altogether?

Ugh, have you seen the sales on Black Friday? Like, $11.8 billion and growing . But what's really concerning me is how much AI is taking over our wallets . I mean, chatbots are everywhere now, helping us make decisions... but at what cost? Are we losing that human touch? That sense of excitement when you're shopping in person? It feels like everything is just a calculated sales pitch .

And don't even get me started on how much data these companies are collecting . I'm not against convenience, but it's like they're exploiting our love for savings and discounts. Can't we just enjoy the thrill of the hunt without AI dictating every move? It feels like we're losing that personal touch in the process .

I know some people will say "but it simplifies our choices"... yeah, sure, until someone figures out how to simplify their student loans . Let's not trade convenience for control.

I'm totally weirded out by how much AI is taking over our shopping habits this Black Friday . I mean, I get it, with so many products available, it's hard to decide what to buy. But have you ever stopped to think about what we're sacrificing for the convenience of AI-powered shopping? For me, it's all about the excitement of browsing a physical store and discovering new things. Now, everything feels like just another online sale... . I'm not sure if I want to live in a world where our wallets are being run by machines .

AI is totally taking over our wallets this Black Friday ! I mean, $11.8 billion in sales just from online shopping? That's insane! And with AI-powered chatbots and tools getting more sophisticated by the minute, it's easy to see why people are relying on them to find deals. But at what cost? Are we gonna lose that excitement of physically going to stores and discovering new things? I think so . It's like, sure, A.I. simplifies our choices, but doesn't that just make us a little less engaged with the products we're buying?

AI is taking over our wallets on Black Friday I'm not sold on this trend just yet. I mean, sure, it's convenient to have a chatbot do the shopping for you, but where's the fun in that? I love browsing through stores, feeling the products, and getting a tactile sense of what I'm buying. It's all about personal experience and human interaction – the AI thing is just making everything so... automated . And don't even get me started on the data collection aspect – I feel like I'm being tracked and analyzed nonstop. Give me a break from the digital world, I want to shop in person!

AI is seriously taking over our wallets on Black Friday! I mean, who needs human interaction when you've got chatbots to help you find deals? It's getting to the point where online shopping is more about being efficient than actually enjoying it . And don't even get me started on how much money we're spending – $253.4 billion in 2025? That's insane! I'm all for convenience, but let's not forget that there's value in human connection and experience. Are we really gonna sacrifice those things for the sake of getting a good deal?

omg $253.4 billion online spending for the 2025 holiday season is crazy i was thinking of buying some new gadgets on black friday but now im not sure if ill get ripped off by all those chatbots

omg u guys i'm literally feeling so anxious about all these AIs taking over our wallets like what even is the point of shopping if its just gonna be a computer telling me whats good for me?? and dont even get me started on how much money we're spending this black friday lol 253.4 billion?! that's insane can't wait to see how this all plays out in the future

omg what's going on with black friday shopping i mean $253 billion in online sales is crazy! but at the same time, it feels like we're losing some of that human connection when we're just browsing stuff on our phones does anyone else feel like they're missing out on something when they're not shopping in person? and i'm all for those AI-powered tools helping us find deals, but what about the fun of discovering new things by accident? is it really worth losing that experience if we can get discounts online?

omg u guyz i'm like SOOOO hyped for black friday this yr i mean who doesn't love scoring some epic deals on their fave electronics and beauty stuff?? and omg ai is literally taking over my wallet lol i mean i get that it's supposed to be easier to shop with all those AI tools but idk if thats the best way tho... dont get me wrong i love saving $$$ as much as the next person, but theres just somethin about browsin thru physical stores and seein products in person that u can't replicate online

I'm low-key worried about AI taking over our shopping habits . Like, who wants their holiday season ruined by some algorithm deciding what's best for them? And don't even get me started on the data they're collecting... it's like, yeah, I need personalized recommendations, but at what cost? My wallet is already being drained just thinking about all this spending .

I'm worried about how much AI is taking over our wallets . Like, what's the point of even having a holiday season if we're just gonna use machines to make all our decisions for us? I mean, remember when you could just go to the mall and see the ads on TV or in magazines? That was fun! Nowadays it's all about swiping left/right on your phone and clicking 'buy now' without even seeing what you're buying . And don't even get me started on those chatbots - they sound like robots from a sci-fi movie ! What happened to human customer service? I guess that's just the price we pay for convenience, but it makes me sad .

oh man i think ai is taking over our wallets in a bad way i mean dont get me wrong it's cool that we have tools to compare prices and find deals but its getting too much i feel like im just clicking buttons on my phone all day and not even thinking about what im buying and the more ai takes over the less human interaction we have

and yeah lets be real who needs personal shopping assistants when we can just ask google for recommendations but seriously its like ai is replacing our own judgment and decision making skills and what about all the jobs that are being lost to automation and how are people going to make a living if they dont have any money left

anyway i guess only time will tell if we can find a balance between technology and human interaction

Ugh, think about it AI is just gonna make us even more mindless consumers, you know? We're already drowning in a sea of stuff on Black Friday, and now we're relying on these chatbots to guide us to the worst purchases ever . And don't even get me started on how our personal info is getting sold to the highest bidder... It's like, what's the point of saving $10 if your credit card info gets stolen too?

AI is like my grandkids - it's always learning and adapting . But with great power comes great responsibility, I think. This AI thingy might be making shopping way too easy for us. I mean, have you ever felt a sense of satisfaction from finding something truly special? I don't know about the young folks, but back in my day, we used to enjoy the hunt, the thrill of the unknown... now it's all just click and compare .

And what's wrong with a little human interaction, eh? I've seen these chatbots and AI-powered shopping assistants, and they're just so... impersonal . Don't get me wrong, I'm all for making life easier, but I think we need to find that balance again. Maybe it's time for some retail therapy without the robots .

AI is making shopping super convenient, but is it too good to be true? I mean, think about it - AI-powered chatbots are just spewing out prices and deals left and right... does anyone even consider if they really need that new TV or not?

I'm all for saving money during holidays, but don't we want to make some thought-out purchases at the end of it? I've seen people getting so caught up in AI's "deals" that they're buying stuff just 'cause it's on sale . Where's the fun in that?

I'm totally stoked about how AI is taking over our shopping experiences ! I mean, think about it – when was the last time you actually had to physically go into a store and browse around for hours before making a decision? It's crazy how far we've come. With AIs like Walmart's Sparky, it's like having your own personal shopping assistant !

And let's be real, who doesn't love the thrill of finding that perfect deal or getting personalized recommendations? It's like having a magic wand that makes all our shopping worries disappear . But what I think is really cool is how AI-powered shopping assistants are becoming more human-like – they're actually starting to understand our preferences and needs, making the shopping experience way more enjoyable.

But here's the thing: with great power comes great responsibility . As Cian said, we shouldn't lose sight of the excitement and joy that comes with shopping. We need to make sure AI is enhancing our experiences, not taking over them entirely . I mean, think about it – if we're just clicking buttons and letting AIs do all the work, what's left for us to enjoy?

Anyway, I'm hyped to see where this whole AI-powered shopping thing takes us ! It's like, the future is now, right?

AI taking over our wallets on Black Friday... how original 11.8 billion and counting, I guess it's a good thing they have chatbots to help us make informed decisions... like, who needs human interaction when you can just be spammed with ads?! And Walmart's Sparky A.I. assistant is basically just a fancy way of saying "we're too lazy to train our sales staff". Anyways, I'm sure it'll all be worth it for the thrill of online shopping and the satisfaction of never really getting anything done

omg u gotta wonder w/ all the tech talk, are ppl actually havin fun on black friday or r they just clickin away @ all the deals anyway, i think it's kinda cool how AI is helpin us shop smarter, like, wanna find a specific gadget but can't decide which one? an AI chatbot can give u all the deets & pros & cons plus, it's awesome to see brands gettin in on the AI game, w/ walmart's sparky & target's gifts what's ur fave way to shop online?