YouGov’s U.S. Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2026 outlook report explores AI’s influence and impact throughout the purchase funnel.
Growing Consumer Interest in AI for Shopping Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly integrated into daily life, with consumers showing greater openness to using AI tools for navigating shopping experiences. A YouGov report indicates that 34% of Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) shoppers in 2026 are likely to use AI tools, a significant increase from 16% in 2025. ChatGPT and Google Gemini Lead the AI Shopping Race Among shoppers planning to use AI during major sales events, ChatGPT and Google Gemini are the most favored platforms, each chosen by 29% of BFCM shoppers. Microsoft Copilot follows with 14% adoption, while Meta AI and Grok are each selected by 10% of shoppers, indicating a clear preference for established generative AI platforms in consumer shopping applications. AI Adoption Not Universal, Brands Must Adapt Despite growing interest, AI adoption for shopping is not universal, as 40% of BFCM shoppers state they will not use any AI tools to navigate sales events. This highlights that while AI-assisted shopping is gaining traction, a substantial portion of consumers remains unconvinced. For brands, ensuring their deals are discoverable by AI tools is becoming crucial for competitiveness in the evolving BFCM retail landscape. The study was conducted online with 1,495 U.S. adults between July 13 and August 11, 2026.
Growing Consumer Interest in AI for Shopping
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly integrated into daily life, with consumers showing greater openness to using AI tools for navigating shopping experiences. A YouGov report indicates that 34% of Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) shoppers in 2026 are likely to use AI tools, a significant increase from 16% in 2025.
ChatGPT and Google Gemini Lead the AI Shopping Race
Among shoppers planning to use AI during major sales events, ChatGPT and Google Gemini are the most favored platforms, each chosen by 29% of BFCM shoppers. Microsoft Copilot follows with 14% adoption, while Meta AI and Grok are each selected by 10% of shoppers, indicating a clear preference for established generative AI platforms in consumer shopping applications.
AI Adoption Not Universal, Brands Must Adapt
Despite growing interest, AI adoption for shopping is not universal, as 40% of BFCM shoppers state they will not use any AI tools to navigate sales events. This highlights that while AI-assisted shopping is gaining traction, a substantial portion of consumers remains unconvinced. For brands, ensuring their deals are discoverable by AI tools is becoming crucial for competitiveness in the evolving BFCM retail landscape. The study was conducted online with 1,495 U.S. adults between July 13 and August 11, 2026.
