Estelle OzK

Black Friday is still weeks away, but Australian shoppers are already changing how they prepare. Instead of rushing towards the biggest discount sign, many are comparing products, waiting for better value and turning to artificial intelligence for shopping research. New research released by Shopify in October 2026 suggests that AI could play a bigger role in this year's holiday shopping season. But can AI really help Australians find a better deal — and what should shoppers check before trusting its recommendations? Quick Answer AI can help shoppers shortlist products, compare features and discover alternatives. However, it cannot guarantee the lowest current price or verify every retailer's claims. The safest approach is to combine AI research with independent price checks, genuine reviews and a clear spending budget. In This Article What Shopify's Australian survey found Why shoppers are turning to AI How to check whether a discount is real Where...

Australians are increasingly asking AI what to buy — but they are not ready to hand over the final decision. New Australian research suggests that artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of the shopping journey. Half of surveyed Australians have already used tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Google AI to research a brand, product or service before making a purchase. But there is a striking gap between using AI for discovery and actually trusting it enough to buy. Only 3% of respondents said they would purchase from an unfamiliar brand based solely on an AI recommendation. Most still want another layer of proof — often from Google, reviews or people they trust. That may tell us more about the future of online shopping than AI adoption numbers alone. In This Article Are Australians really using AI for shopping? Why do only 3% trust an AI recommendation alone? Why do shoppers go back to Google and reviews? What are Australians will...