American shoppers set a new record for Black Friday online spending, reaching $11.8 billion—a 9.1% increase from last year—largely driven by the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence technologies. Nearly half of U.S. consumers used or planned to use AI tools, such as chatbots, to compare prices and find deals, resulting in an 805% surge in AI-driven retail website traffic. Popular purchases included Pokémon cards, LEGO sets, Apple AirPods, KitchenAid mixers, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5. The trend continued on Thanksgiving Day, with online sales hitting $6.4 billion. Read the full article for more details: Black Friday online spending hits record as American shoppers embrace new AI technology.
