AI-Assisted Online Shopping Expected to Surge 520% in 2025 U.S. Holiday Season

The 2025 U.S. holiday online shopping season is projected to reach $253.4 billion, a 5.3% increase from last year, with Cyber Monday expected to remain the peak shopping day at $14.2 billion in sales. Black Friday and Thanksgiving Day online sales are also forecasted to grow significantly, driven by strong consumer demand for discounts averaging 28% off and an early start to sales. A notable trend is the surge in AI-assisted shopping, with Adobe Analytics predicting a 520% year-over-year increase in AI traffic to retail sites, especially in the 10 days leading up to Thanksgiving, following a 1,300% increase from 2023 to 2024. Consumers are using AI primarily for research, product recommendations, deal hunting, and gift ideas, with categories like toys, electronics, jewelry, and personal care receiving the most AI-assisted shopping attention. Mobile devices are expected to dominate online transactions at 56.1%, reflecting growing convenience with larger smartphone screens. Additionally, buy now, pay later services are expanding, contributing to the overall increase in online holiday sales.