The record US$11.8 billion in Black Friday online spending highlights a strategic shift towards AI-powered shopping tools, fundamentally altering consumer engagement and retail strategies. This trend signals a growing reliance on AI to enhance personalization, optimize pricing, and boost sales efficiency, positioning those who adopt these technologies at a competitive advantage while potentially sidelining traditional retail approaches that fail to adapt.
A Reuters‑based report shows that AI‑powered shopping assistants such as Walmart’s Sparky and Amazon’s Rufus helped push US online Black Friday sales to a record US$11.8 billion, up 9.1% year‑on‑year. Adobe Analytics and Salesforce data indicate AI‑driven traffic to US retail sites surged 805% and that AI agents influenced US$14.2 billion in global online sales, underscoring how generative AI is rapidly reshaping consumer behavior and e‑commerce strategies.
Reuters-based reporting from multiple outlets finds that AI-powered shopping assistants like Walmart’s Sparky and Amazon’s Rufus helped push US Black Friday online spending to a record US$11.8 billion, up 9.1% year-on-year, with Adobe Analytics citing an 805% jump in AI-driven traffic to retail sites. Salesforce estimates that globally, AI agents influenced US$14.2 billion in Black Friday online sales, underscoring how conversational recommendation tools are rapidly becoming a central interface for e-commerce. ([straitstimes.com](https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/ai-helps-drive-record-us11-8-billion-in-black-friday-online-spending-in-the-us))
Adobe Analytics reported that U.S. consumers spent a record $11.8 billion online on Black Friday, with AI-powered shopping tools such as personalized recommendations, dynamic pricing and automated customer service playing a key role in boosting sales. The surge underscores how retailers are leaning on AI to optimize promotions and conversions during peak shopping periods, raising the competitive bar for ecommerce platforms and AI providers alike.