GenAI Shopping Assistants to Boom During Prime Day Deals
▼ Summary
– AI will play a larger role in Amazon’s Prime Day sale this year, with Adobe estimating $23.8 billion in U.S. online spending over the four-day event.
– Adobe’s analysis, based on tracking over 1 trillion visits to U.S. retail sites, predicts Prime Day 2024 will see 28.4% year-over-year growth, equivalent to “two Black Fridays.”
– Mobile sales will account for 52.5% of purchases, while generative AI-driven traffic is expected to surge 3,200% year-over-year, though it remains a smaller channel than paid search or email.
– A survey of 5,000 U.S. consumers found 92% of gen AI users felt it improved their shopping experience, with common uses including research (55%), product recommendations (47%), and deal-finding (43%).
– Adobe forecasts apparel will have the biggest Prime Day discounts, with back-to-school needs also driving sales, while AI providers like Google and OpenAI integrate shopping features into their tools.
AI-powered shopping assistants are set to transform the way consumers hunt for deals during Amazon’s Prime Day event, with adoption skyrocketing compared to previous years. The annual sales extravaganza, running from July 8-11, is projected to generate $23.8 billion in online spending across U.S. retailers, a 28.4% jump from last year’s figures.
According to Adobe Analytics, which monitors over 1 trillion visits to retail sites and tracks 100 million products, this year’s Prime Day could rival two Black Fridays combined in terms of revenue. Mobile shopping will dominate, making up 52.5% of transactions, but the real standout is the explosive growth of generative AI tools in the shopping process.
Adobe predicts a staggering 3,200% year-over-year surge in traffic from AI-driven sources like chatbots and smart browsers. While still a small fraction compared to traditional channels like email marketing, the trend highlights how quickly consumers are embracing AI for deal hunting. The shift began gaining momentum during the 2024 holiday season, when AI-powered shopping tools saw a 1,300% spike in usage.
A survey of 5,000 U.S. shoppers revealed that 55% rely on AI for product research, while 47% use it for personalized recommendations. Other popular applications include finding discounts (43%), generating gift ideas (35%), and discovering niche products (35%). Nearly all users (92%) reported that AI improved their shopping experience, with 87% more inclined to use it for big-ticket purchases.
Major tech players are already doubling down on this trend. Google has integrated Gemini AI into product searches, while OpenAI has rolled out shopping features in ChatGPT. As retailers compete for attention during Prime Day, AI tools are becoming indispensable for consumers seeking the best bargains, particularly in apparel and back-to-school categories, where discounts are expected to be deepest.
The data underscores a broader shift: AI isn’t just reshaping how people shop, it’s redefining the entire e-commerce landscape. With adoption rates climbing, businesses that leverage these tools effectively stand to gain a significant edge in an increasingly competitive market.
(Source: TechCrunch)
