In the three days immediately following Cyber Monday 2025 (Dec. 5–7), we surveyed 1,206 U.S. adults to capture what actually happened after the deals ended—not plans, not predictions, but real behaviour measured in the moment.
The result: AI tools have moved from experiment to default for millions of American shoppers.
Key Findings (n = 1,206)
- 33.8 per cent said AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude and others) were the single most helpful source for holiday decisions—ahead of Google (22.8 per cent)
- 55.6 per cent used an AI tool for at least one holiday decision
- 48.4 per cent made at least one purchase based on an AI recommendation
(33.0 per cent bought one item; 15.4 per cent bought multiple) - 78.6 per cent expect to rely on AI the same amount or more next holiday season
How People Used AI (Multiple-Select, Per Cent of All Respondents)
- 50.0 per cent — comparing products or finding deals
- 42.2 per cent — getting ideas or advice (recipes, décor, gifts, hosting)
- 41.2 per cent — choosing gifts
- 29.7 per cent — planning travel or activities
- 19.8 per cent — selecting local businesses or services
Summary
Across every major holiday task—from comparing products to choosing gifts—AI tools played a central role in how Americans made decisions after Cyber Monday. Nearly half of all adults acted on an AI recommendation, signalling a major shift in how people research, shop and plan during the busiest season of the year.
Full Report
Download the complete research PDF.
Methodology
Online survey of 1,206 U.S. adults, fielded Dec. 5–7, 2025 via SurveyMonkey Audience.
Quotas and weighting were applied to approximate U.S. Census demographics.
Margin of error: plus or minus three percentage points, 95 per cent confidence.
Does this mean AI has “replaced” Google for shopping?
No. Google remains the most-used search tool overall.
This snapshot shows that in specific, high-pressure holiday contexts, many consumers found AI tools more helpful for making immediate decisions.
What counts as an “AI recommendation”?
Respondents interpreted this naturally: direct product suggestions, shortlists, gift ideas that led to a purchase or advice that influenced the final decision.
Why does this matter for brands?
Generative AI doesn’t return a list of links—it returns one synthesized answer.
If your organization’s information is inconsistent or unclear, AI tools may not recommend you.
This is the new reality of AI visibility.
