AI Helps Drive Record $11.8B in Black Friday Online Spending
Published: (November 29, 2025 at 11:34 PM EST)
2 min read
Source: Slashdot
Source: Slashdot
AI Adoption in Holiday Shopping
MasterCard reports that retailers such as Walmart now allow customers to make purchases through ChatGPT. A survey of more than 4,000 consumers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and the UAE found:
- > 40 % of shoppers already use AI tools to help them shop.
- 61 % of Gen Z and 57 % of Millennials rely on AI for shopping assistance.
- 50 % of Gen Z and 49 % of Millennials would let AI handle all their gift‑buying to avoid stress.
- 51 % of Gen Z and 55 % of Millennials trust AI to deliver unique, thoughtful recommendations—sometimes more than they trust themselves.
The most popular AI‑driven uses are:
- Personalized product recommendations.
- Confirming the best deal before purchase.
- Summarizing thousands of reviews instantly.
“Shoppers are embracing AI as their new personal assistant—one that knows their budget, style, and patience level.” – MasterCard
The 2025 holiday shopper is described as intentional: planning earlier, spending wiser, and leveraging technology to maximize every dollar and every gift.
Black Friday 2025 Online Spending
- U.S. shoppers spent a record $11.8 billion online on Black Friday, up 9.1 % from 2024 (Adobe Analytics).
- Adobe tracks roughly 1 trillion visits to online retail sites each year.
AI‑Powered Traffic Surge
- AI‑driven traffic to U.S. retail sites rose 805 % year‑over‑year.
- Tools such as Walmart’s Sparky and Amazon’s Rufus (still pending launch) contributed to the surge.
“Consumers are using new tools to get to what they need faster,” said Suzy Davidkhanian, eMarketer analyst.
- Globally, AI and agents influenced $14.2 billion in online sales on Black Friday, with $3 billion coming from the U.S. (Salesforce).
Economic Context Behind the AI Shift
- 2025 Black Friday arrived amid tighter budgets, unemployment near a four‑year high, and U.S. consumer confidence at a seven‑month low.
- Discount rates remained flat compared to 2024; AI helped shoppers discover the best deals despite higher price tags.
Key retail metrics
| Metric | Change YoY |
|---|---|
| Order volumes | –1 % |
| Average selling price | +7 % |
| Units per transaction | –2 % |
Outlook: Cyber Monday 2025
- Projected $14.2 billion in sales, up 6.3 % YoY, making it the largest online shopping day of the year (Adobe).
- Expected deep discounts:
- Electronics – up to 30 % off list price.
- Strong deals also anticipated for apparel and computers.
Sources: MasterCard, Reuters, Adobe Analytics, eMarketer, Salesforce.