Two-thirds of shoppers now open to using AI assistants to help them buy online

Core Insights - The rise of LLM-powered AI assistants is transforming the online shopping experience, with their effectiveness increasingly reliant on rich, intent-driven, and contextual commerce data rather than just natural language processing capabilities [1][8] Consumer Expectations - 72% of consumers expect AI shopping assistants to aid in online shopping, with this expectation exceeding 80% among those under 45 [1] - Among consumers who anticipate AI assistance, 48% are open to using an AI shopping assistant from their favorite retailer, increasing to 62% for those aged 25-34 [2] Transparency and Control - Retailers must ensure transparency regarding data usage and empower shoppers in their purchasing decisions, as 24% of consumers would stop using AI due to data handling concerns, and 21% would discontinue use if they felt AI was making decisions without their input [3] Trust and Adoption - 34% of consumers have tried shopping with a conversational AI assistant, with this figure rising to 59% among 25-34 year olds, indicating a higher acceptance among younger consumers [4] - 77% of early adopters trust brands more if they utilize an AI shopping assistant [5] Interaction Preferences - 46% of early adopters prefer accessing AI assistants through a website's search bar, while 41% favor a dedicated on-site chatbot, suggesting that AI interactions should be integrated into existing search functionalities [6] Impact of Poor Experience - 69% of early adopters who received irrelevant product suggestions abandoned their search for alternatives, highlighting the importance of relevant product discovery [7] Personalization Importance - Personalization is crucial, with consumers valuing features such as deal alerts (59%), personalized recommendations (51%), and gift inspiration (44%) [8] Areas for Improvement - 33% of early adopters believe AI can significantly enhance decision-making, while 25% see potential in product discovery [9][16] Readiness Gap - There exists a readiness gap between consumer demand for AI in shopping and the actual investment by retailers, with only 36% of surveyed retailers allocating dedicated budgets for AI tools [13][14]