Consumers Reported Declining Reliance on AI for Holidays

A recent survey shows fewer shoppers expect artificial intelligence to assist with their holiday shopping this year.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Shopping — General

Bold vector editorial illustration of a holiday gift box and pinecone, representing consumer trends in technology adoption. — Forty-three percent of U.S. consumers expect to use artificial intelligence for holiday shopping this year, a decrease from 48% in 2025. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you trust using artificial intelligence tools for your personal shopping and grocery needs?

Forty-three percent of U.S. consumers believe artificial intelligence will facilitate holiday shopping in 2026. This reflects a shift from the previous year, when 48% of consumers reported that AI assisted their holiday efforts.

Why it matters

While many shoppers turn to automated tools for logistics, privacy concerns remain a significant hurdle for broader adoption. Understanding these trends helps businesses gauge the evolving trust between retail platforms and the public.

A survey of 1,500 consumers found that 82% of produce buyers regularly use at least one AI tool for meal planning and budgeting. Additionally, four in five shoppers currently trust AI assistants to provide shipping updates and track their holiday orders.

The players

Southeast Produce Council

This organization represents professionals across the produce industry and conducts research on consumer trends and technology usage.

The details

The Southeast Produce Council conducted the survey, which examined how shoppers integrate technology into tasks like creating grocery lists, selecting recipes, and monitoring nutritional needs. Despite this engagement with AI for daily tasks, the perceived utility for holiday-specific shopping has seen a slight decline.

In 2025, 48% of consumers believed AI helped with holiday shopping.
In 2026, 43% of consumers reported believing AI helps with holiday shopping.

Culture Shift

The data follows a pattern set by the Southeast Produce Council consumer sentiment report on AI integration, highlighting a nuanced reaction to automated retail assistance. This shift suggests that while AI is becoming a fixture in daily grocery management, its role in seasonal holiday planning remains subject to fluctuating consumer trust.

Shoppers may find that while AI tools for tracking shipping remain reliable, they need to manually manage more of their holiday budget and gift list planning this year. Consumers prioritizing data privacy should be aware that their personal concerns are shared by a majority of the survey participants.

The takeaway

Consumers are increasingly selective about where they deploy AI, favoring practical logistics over broader holiday planning assistance. To optimize their own shopping, readers should use AI for specific tasks like delivery tracking while maintaining personal oversight for strategic seasonal purchasing.