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A Kiplinger report outlines ways shoppers can use AI for holiday budgets, gift ideas, product comparisons and deal searches. Retail experts say detailed prompts can improve results, but shoppers should verify prices and product information before buying.
A Kiplinger report outlines how shoppers can use artificial intelligence to plan holiday budgets, brainstorm gifts, compare products and search for deals, while warning that recommendations and prices need to be verified before purchase. The guidance matters as surveys cited by Kiplinger suggest many consumers are considering AI for holiday buying, though estimates vary by survey.
AI can help divide a total spending limit among people on a gift list. Gartner director analyst Brad Jashinsky advises including details such as the number of recipients and the kinds of gifts being bought. A shopper could ask a chatbot to allocate a $1,000 budget across family, children, teachers and coworkers, and include taxes, wrapping and cards. Follow-up instructions can change the allocations or request gift suggestions within them.
For gift brainstorming, Accenture global retail lead Kelly Askew recommends giving the tool context about the recipient, the intent behind the gift and a specific task. Details such as a person’s interests, age, preferred stores and a spending cap can make suggestions more targeted. Shoppers can then refine the list by ruling out unsuitable items—for example, gifts that do not fit the recipient’s climate or interests.
AI can also compare products against requirements, such as a price ceiling or a must-have feature, and organize pros and cons into a table. For deal searches, shoppers can ask tools to compare prices, shipping costs and discount codes. Some retailers also offer AI assistants on their websites or apps for product recommendations and questions about items sold there. Those features and the accuracy of their answers may differ by retailer.
Where AI Can Save Shopping Time
The practical appeal is reducing the work of shopping: a tool can turn a list of recipients and constraints into a draft budget or shortlist, then help compare options without manually repeating the same search across retailers. RetailMeNot analyst Stephanie Carls told Kiplinger that AI can be useful when shoppers are trying to stay within a budget and get product recommendations.
But a faster shortlist is not the same as a confirmed best buy. Kiplinger cites a SmartCustomer survey in which about one-third of shoppers said they regretted an AI-recommended purchase. The report gives no further details in the supplied material about the survey’s sample or timing. That finding underlines why shoppers should treat AI as a research aid, not a substitute for checking whether a product suits their needs and whether the listed price is current.
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How to Get Better AI Suggestions
The report cites a range of estimates for AI use: marketing firm LDWW says nearly seven in 10 consumers already use AI tools to assist them while shopping. Surveys cited by Kiplinger found that 29% to 65% of consumers specifically planned to use AI for holiday purchases. These are separate survey findings, not a single measure, and the source material does not provide their individual dates, samples or methods.
Across the suggested uses, the same principle applies: make requests specific. Instead of asking for “the best headphones,” a shopper could specify wireless, over-ear headphones with noise control under $200. The report also advises stating deal breakers, such as a required USB-C port, and asking for comparisons based on reviews. AI answers can be outdated or can misrepresent product reviews, so the retailer’s own listing remains the place to confirm current details.
“AI can help them go down the funnel of every item in the universe to land on the top two or three gifts they could buy.”
— Kelly Askew, global retail lead at Accenture, as quoted by Kiplinger
What AI Shopping Tools Cannot Confirm
The source material does not identify which AI tools or retailers were tested, or whether the cited shopping assistants can reliably check live inventory, final checkout costs or current coupon terms. It also does not provide the dates and methods behind the consumer-use estimates or the SmartCustomer regret survey. Survey figures are not directly comparable without that information.
AI-generated recommendations may reflect outdated prices or inaccurate summaries of reviews, according to the report. Whether a specific suggestion is suitable, available or genuinely the lowest-priced option must be checked against current retailer information. The report does not establish that using AI will save money or prevent a poor purchase.
Check Every Shortlist Before Buying
Shoppers can use AI to draft a budget, create gift ideas and narrow product choices, then confirm the shortlisted items on retailer pages. Before ordering, check the current price, shipping charges, product specifications, reviews and return terms; test any discount code at checkout. The report offers practical prompts but does not announce a new product or policy, and it gives no specific next milestone. The immediate next step for consumers is to verify each recommendation against the seller’s current listing.
Key Questions
What can AI help with during holiday shopping?
It can help allocate a gift budget, brainstorm ideas, compare products, search prices and identify possible discounts. Results depend on the tool and the information supplied.
How should I prompt an AI tool for gift ideas?
Give it details about the recipient, the kind of gift you want and the task. Include interests, age or life stage, budget, preferred stores and any items to avoid.
Can AI confirm the lowest price or a working coupon?
The report says AI can help compare prices and search for discount codes, but it does not establish that results are complete or current. Check the retailer’s page and final checkout price before buying.
Should I trust AI product reviews?
Not without checking. Kiplinger warns that AI may distort reviews or present outdated information. Use its output to build a shortlist, then review product details and customer feedback on retailer pages.
Source: kiplinger.com
