AI Adoption Has Transformed Global Retail Shopping
New data reveals that artificial intelligence is increasingly reshaping how consumers discover products and engage with brands.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Shopping — General
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A collaborative report by Eagle Eye, Deloitte, and Google found that 41% of consumers utilized AI platforms for product discovery as of January 2026. One-third of shoppers have already replaced traditional shopping methods with these new AI-driven tools.
Why it matters
Retailers risk becoming secondary product catalogues if they fail to integrate their loyalty programs with AI platforms. AI requires the rich, individual customer data provided by loyalty memberships to deliver effective, personalized shopping experiences.
As of January 2026, 41% of consumers use AI for product discovery, while 33% have entirely replaced previous shopping methods with AI interfaces. Additionally, only nine of 56 major retailers currently provide highly personalized search results.
The players
Eagle Eye
This company provides digital marketing and loyalty software that manages over 750 million consumer wallets worldwide.
Deloitte
This multinational professional services network provides audit, consulting, and advisory services to major global retailers.
This technology company develops search and generative AI platforms that are increasingly being used for product discovery.
The details
Retailers are now integrating ecommerce platforms directly into AI interfaces, allowing users to generate lists and populate shopping carts through conversational prompts. This personalization is critical, as 68% of consumers report that tailored experiences increase their overall brand satisfaction.
Timeline
In 2025, 300 million customers used the Amazon Rufus AI assistant.
As of January 2026, 41% of consumers used AI platforms for product discovery.
The collaborative report was published in September 2026.
Culture Shift
This move toward AI-driven shopping reflects a fundamental transition from static browsing to dynamic, personalized consumer engagement. By leveraging deep data integration, retailers are attempting to match the efficiency of AI platforms that now define modern consumer expectations.
Shoppers can expect to see more personalized offers and AI-driven shopping assistants as retailers attempt to boost engagement and prevent membership churn. Users may find that providing consistent data through loyalty programs unlocks more relevant search results and potentially better value.
The takeaway
Consumers should prioritize high-value loyalty programs that integrate with AI, as these platforms are increasingly determining which products appear in search results. To get the best deals, shoppers should be aware that their personalized habits and profile data are the primary currency driving these digital experiences.
Further reading
Learn more about evolving consumer habits in our Shopping — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mumbrella.
Live Poll
Do you trust AI-driven shopping assistants to prioritize your preferred brands when you search for products?
