DETROIT – As holiday shoppers grapple with finding gifts for challenging recipients, artificial intelligence could be the perfect holiday helper.
“This is a great way to maybe find gifts for people who are hard to give to,” said Andrea Woroch, a consumer money-saving expert.
Some major retailers have already integrated AI shopping assistants on their websites to help customers.
The key to success with AI holiday shopping lies in providing specific information about the recipient.
“The person’s age, their hobbies, stores they like to shop at, products they like to use — all of these factors are going to help get you a better gift suggestion,” Woroch said.
To test AI’s gift-giving capabilities, Local 4’s Will Jones conducted an experiment using ChatGPT to find $50 gifts for two colleagues with distinct interests: Demond Fernandez and Karen Drew, co-anchors of Local 4 News at 5:30.
AI was tasked with suggesting presents for a fashion-conscious man (Demond) interested in suits, shoes, ties, theater, travel and art, as well as for a fitness-enthusiastic mother (Karen) of two who enjoys reading, running and country music concerts.
Results surprised Jones, who found AI generated numerous practical and personalized gift ideas within the specified budget.
“Finding time to shop and store and discover products for all the loved ones on your list is almost impossible these days. So if AI can help you save a little bit of time, I would definitely tap into it,” Woroch said.
However, like any technology, it isn’t without drawbacks.
Woroch warns that relying solely on AI for holiday shopping might mean missing out on unique finds from local small businesses.
“I would say it could be great for the big box store, the mainstream products you’re shopping for, but definitely there’s still something to be said about going to the stores, especially the local small businesses where you could support them, find some different gifts that maybe you wouldn’t have discovered through AI,” she said.
Woroch says AI is just another resource for those who need a little help with their shopping.
“I don’t think that anybody should feel embarrassed about using it. I think it’s just more helpful and it makes our life a little bit more simple because we are all so busy during the holidays, especially if you have a family, you have kids in school with all these holiday activities and events,” she said.
Watch the video to see what Will gifted Karen and Demond and their reaction.