It is going to be an AI-assisted holiday shopping season, say analysts

As shoppers gear up for big electronic purchases during Cyber Monday, retail analysts note that this year’s holiday shopping will see more customers using AI assistants to discover products.

Executives say people usually Google or type into retailers’ search bars to find what they want to buy, but now tools like ChatGPT and Amazon’s Rufus are reshaping the product-discovery journey.

Cyber Monday deals now begin as early as Friday and run through Monday night, supported by app-based promotions, loyalty perks, and more. Here are a few notable ones:

Target is going all-in on AI-assisted shopping, more than any other retailer. It allows customers to explore and purchase all Target products via ChatGPT, in addition to offering deep discounts in its stores, site, and app.

It is bringing back the popular 10%-off gift card promotion on December 6–7, allowing shoppers to save up to $50. The company claims that consumers bought 6 million Target gift cards during the 2024 event.

Amazon launched one of its longest holiday sales windows ever, running from November 20 to December 1. It has even extended holiday returns till January 31 of next year.

Best Buy rolled out its Cyber Sunday and Monday sale with discounts of up to 50%.

Kohl’s brought back its two-day Cyber Days event running on Sunday and Monday. It is offering $15 in Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent, plus Sephora discounts and prizes.

Walmart, America’s largest retailer, continues its Black Friday sale through Sunday, with Walmart+ members getting early access to Cyber Monday deals.