Antwerp, Flanders - As artificial intelligence becomes a core part of everyday digital experiences, a new global study by Conveo reveals a dramatic shift in how consumers make shopping decisions. According to the Conveo 2025 AI Shopper Study, AI recommendations (51%) are now nearly twice as popular as those from family and friends (26%), and significantly more influential than advice from in-store staff (10%) or online reviews (9%). These findings highlight how AI is reshaping the path from product discovery to purchase, just in time for the 2025 holiday season.
This transformation is already taking hold across major retail markets, including the US, UK, Mexico, and India. Rather than relying solely on advertising or personal recommendations, today's consumers are actively turning to AI-powered tools, from digital assistants to conversational commerce platforms, for real-time guidance on what to buy.
This behavioral change follows a broader industry trend. Last year, Salesforce reported that AI influenced over $229 billion in global e-commerce sales during the 2024 holiday season. In 2025, that influence is expected to expand significantly, as AI not only shapes what shoppers buy but also simplifies how they buy. With capabilities like instant checkout now integrated into platforms such as ChatGPT, consumers are moving seamlessly from product discovery to transaction, without ever leaving the conversation.
Conveo’s research, based on in-depth interviews with 330 participants, explores the mechanics behind this trend. Findings suggest that the “golden triangle” of trust, personalization, and convenience is accelerating AI’s adoption in retail. Consumers are increasingly seeing AI not just as a helpful assistant, but as a reliable, efficient, and even preferable partner in their shopping journey.
This shift is also reshaping how consumers interact with brands. The study reveals that over half of the respondents (53%) reported trying new brands as a result of AI recommendations, signaling a decline in long-held brand loyalties. For challenger brands, this opens up new paths to market share. For established players, staying relevant increasingly means being visible and optimized within AI-powered ecosystems.
To delve deeper into these findings, Conveo will host a live panel discussion on December 3, 2025, at 4:00 PM GMT / 11:00 AM EST. The session will bring together insights and brand experts, who will unpack the study’s results and examine what this AI-driven consumer behavior means for retail, marketing, and brand strategy in 2026. A live Q&A session will follow, offering attendees the chance to engage directly with the panel. Interested participants can register via https://www.linkedin.com/events/7391779159812984832/.
This conversation comes at a time when AI is no longer a futuristic concept in retail; it’s shaping transactions in real-time. From groceries to high-end electronics, AI tools are influencing decisions, reshaping habits, and redefining value for consumers across demographics and geographies.
Consumer video interview clips and direct participant quotes from the study are available for editorial use, with full permission granted by contributors. Journalists interested in accessing these materials can contact Emily Kavanagh via emily@conveo.ai.
About Conveo:
Conveo is a fully AI-powered video interview platform designed for modern qualitative research. It streamlines the entire research process, from study design and participant recruitment to interviews, analysis, and insight sharing, in one integrated platform. Built by researchers for researchers, Conveo enables faster, more efficient insight generation without compromising quality. The platform is used by teams needing reliable insights at speed, making it ideal for product development, marketing, and user research.
Media Contact
Name
Conveo
Contact name
Emily Kavanagh
Contact address
Silversquare Tower
City
Antwerp
State
Flanders
Zip
2000
Country
Belgium
Url
https://conveo.ai/
