Results of a survey released by Visa suggest AI’s influence in shopping and spending represents a generational shift in consumer spending behavior already having an impact this holiday season.
Overall, Visa is forecasting 4.6% year-over-year growth in total U.S. holiday spending this year.
According to Visa, consumers are increasingly weaving technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital currencies into their holiday habits. Some 47% of survey respondents say they have used an AI tool for at least one shopping task, with finding gift ideas ranking as the top tech-assisted use. In exploring agentic commerce applications, price comparison ranked first in consumer use.
On the blockchain side of the ledger, the Visa survey indicated 28% of consumers happily would receive cryptocurrency as a gift. That number skyrockets to 45% for GenZers. One in 10 shoppers said they believe stablecoins will take over transactions by 2030, while 28% expect an increase in usage of stablecoins by 2035.
Gen Z outpaced other generations in adopting next-generation payment and shopping methods, with biometric authentications favored by 71%, buying from social platforms attractive by 55% and making purchases via cryptocurrency attractive by 44%.
One in five shoppers now prefer digital wallets when they shop. GenZers lead in use and are just about as open to using digital wallets as physical cards, at 36% to 34%, respectively.
Even as shoppers integrate AI into their routines, 61% prefer human interaction for customer service, and 60% want to better understand how AI-powered shopping tools use their personal data. This suggests that transparency and trust will be important in driving broader adoption.
“The data tells a fascinating story about the spending shift we’re witnessing: shoppers are embracing AI and digital tools at remarkable speed, with nearly half of Americans now using AI to enhance their shopping experience,” said Bruce Cundiff, vice president, Visa Consumer Insights. “From AI-powered gift discovery to cryptocurrency as a legitimate gift option, we’re seeing Gen Z and younger Millennials lead a fundamental reimagining of commerce.”
