How Artificial Intelligence Turned Holiday Shopping Into America’s Costliest Habit
For generations, holiday shopping in America followed a familiar rhythm. Families made handwritten lists, browsed store aisles, compared prices, and exercised at least some restraint. The holiday season was expensive, yes, but predictable. That rhythm has now been irreversibly disrupted. In 2025, artificial intelligence emerged as the most influential — and invisible — force shaping consumer behavior. No longer limited to powering search engines or product recommendations, AI became the silent architect of how Americans shopped, what they bought, when they bought it, and how much they ultimately spent. The result was a paradoxical holiday season: record-breaking convenience paired with … Read more
