AI Tools Start Product Discovery for 10% of Shoppers

An AlixPartners survey of more than 9,000 U.S. shoppers finds AI is beginning to shape how consumers find products.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Shopping — General

AI Tools Start Product Discovery for 10% of Shoppers

Live Poll

Would you let an AI agent make routine purchases for you?

AlixPartners published its 2026 Consumer Sentiment Index, finding that 10% of U.S. consumers begin product discovery with an AI tool. The survey covered more than 9,000 shoppers across 140 retailers and nine sectors.

Why it matters

The findings suggest AI could change how shoppers find products, with AlixPartners expecting AI agents to take over routine replenishment purchases first. For consumers, the shift points to new ways of discovering products beyond search and social media.

Of the more than 9,000 shoppers surveyed across 140 retailers, 10% of U.S. consumers begin product discovery with an AI tool and 6% start on social media. Fourteen percent of Gen Z and millennial shoppers start with AI, and the survey did not project how fast that share will grow.

The players

AlixPartners

AlixPartners is a global consulting firm that publishes the annual Consumer Sentiment Index tracking shopper behavior.

The details

Survey results show 87% of shoppers prioritize product availability and 86% say price and quality must align. Affluent shoppers are expected to use AI as a concierge for styling and curated picks, while basket-size growth at Ralph Lauren, Coach and Dick's Sporting Goods coincided with experiential store investments.

Summer 2026: AlixPartners surveys more than 9,000 shoppers.
2026: The AlixPartners 2026 Consumer Sentiment Index is published.

Culture Shift

The AlixPartners 2026 Consumer Sentiment Index shows shoppers increasingly turning to AI and social media for product discovery, and advertised apparel full prices rose 15% over two years. Those trends signal a broader move in how U.S. consumers research and buy.

Shoppers who rely on AI tools may find product recommendations changing their routine purchases. Consumers prioritizing availability and value should watch how AI agents handle replenishment buying.

The takeaway

Shoppers can compare product availability, price and quality directly rather than relying on a single discovery channel. The survey suggests AI may become one more starting point in that process.