The glow of screens illuminated faces across America this Black Friday, not just from the usual holiday lights, but from the surge in online shopping. Figures released show a record-breaking $11.8 billion spent online, a 9.1% increase compared to last year, according to the latest reports from Fox Business.
It’s a number that speaks volumes. For years, the story of Black Friday has been one of crowded parking lots and early-morning rushes. Now, the narrative is shifting. This year, the shift was powered by something new: artificial intelligence.
Shoppers, eager for a deal, turned to AI chatbots and comparison tools. These digital assistants, sifting through endless options, helped consumers pinpoint the best prices and track the most promising offers. It wasn’t just about convenience; it was about efficiency. Finding the best deals became a game, and AI was the secret weapon.
“We’ve seen a significant uptick in the use of AI-powered tools,” said Sarah Chen, a retail analyst at Forrester Research. “Consumers are getting savvier, and they’re using technology to their advantage.”
The numbers don’t lie. This Black Friday, the American consumer, armed with a smartphone and a thirst for a bargain, rewrote the rules of the game. The shift to online was already happening, but this year, it felt different. It felt inevitable.
Perhaps it’s the quiet satisfaction of a deal well-found, the click of a button delivering holiday cheer. The future of shopping, it seems, is not just in our hands, but in the algorithms that guide them.
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