While artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for many years, the use of the technology grew substantially in 2023 with many iterations of generative AI such as ChatGPT and new software programs designed to make life easier.
These platforms were used to demonstrate just how powerful AI can be not just for business but for all social aspects of society — from creating scripts and novels to a chatbot answering questions on a web portal, to becoming a virtual friend, therapist or even a partner.
So now that the holidays are here, it is not surprising to see AI being used by people to help during what is undoubtedly one of the busiest times of the year.
Source: 84.51°According to 84.51°, supermarket giant Kroger’s in-house data analytics service, about 44% of people surveyed plan to use AI for holiday planning in some respect. This is a huge jump from previous years.
This is backed up by a recent Shopify survey where 69% of shoppers said they are using AI to find new brands and products. Additionally, 74% from the Shopify survey thought AI would help them find better deals and special offers.
Shopify said that much of the focus on AI has been how businesses can increase profits or make jobs faster, but AI is also being used to improve the retail shopping experience for everyone and particularly being used this holiday season.
Last-minute gift ideas
Depending on the personality and interest, finding gifts can either be extremely easy or the most difficult part of the holidays.
Luckily, AI can help with that.
Both Google and Microsoft’s Bing have created AI-generated gift idea searches that can help find gifts for the most difficult member of the family or a hard-to-buy friend. Google’s search has been upgraded to include its SGE generative AI experimental program. When enabled in Chrome or an app, the generative AI add-on appears in a Google search next to traditional results but appear to be more personalized options.
Bing’s program called Co-pilot allows users to ask the AI-powered search engine for anything. In this case, when asked for “last minute Christmas gifts,” the AI gave this response:
- Most likely to shoot reindeer Christmas T-shirt
- Skims soft lounge rib sleep set
- Flikr fire tabletop smokeless fire pit
- Mondo Llama create your own gingerbread house kit
- Boarderie happy holidays ciccetti cheese and charcuterie board
While these may not be the greatest suggestions, it is easy to refine the search to fit a more specific gift need.
Of those surveyed in 84.51°’s survey, 11% of consumers plan to use AI for last-minute brainstorming of gifts this year.
Writing Santa letters
Writing letters to Santa is a common thing for kids to tell the jolly man what they want for Christmas. But what about handwritten notes to children from Santa?
That’s where Handwryttenbysanta.com comes in handy. The letters from Santa Claus are generated from AI based on input from a user. The AI then spits out a formal handwritten letter from Santa that comes with an official seal, a nice wintergreen smell and from an address in the North Pole.
Shopify found that more consumers are using AI to not just discover new brands but to also help with overall holiday deals. Source: Shopify
Grocery list
While coming up with a grocery list may seem like an easy thing to do. It is just another thing that must be done in a long list of holiday chores or preparations for family and good times.
Many people are turning to AI this holiday to help. In fact, in 84.51°’s survey, 15% of respondents plan to use AI to help make a grocery list.
There are a host of AI-based grocery shopping list apps emerging too. Like Kooper, an experimental app that is based on machine learning algorithms. The app allows users to make grocery lists and search for items that are on sale, and it can be shared with other members of a household.
Additionally, these AI-programs learn your shopping patterns and send notifications when deals on frequently purchased items are available.
New recipes
Finally, consumers are using AI to search out new recipes that they may never have made before to bring new food items to their holiday dinner or pre-holiday parties.
Some consumers are even letting ChapGPT plan their entire holiday dinner after giving the AI some parameters for the dishes needed.
In 84.51°’s survey, about 13% of responders said they plan to search for new recipes with the help of AI.
