Gen AI drives a 4,700% surge in traffic to shopping sites in the US: Adobe
Consumers are increasingly turning to AI-powered chat services and browsers to help them research products, hunt for deals, and get personalized recommendations. Adobe found that over 90% of users trust the links and suggestions provided by these AI platforms. This trust is translating into more clicks—and more time spent shopping.
In fact, shoppers who arrive at retail sites via AI tools:
- Spend 32% more time browsing
- View 10% more pages
- Are 27% less likely to bounce (leave the site immediately
The trend first gained traction during the 2024 holiday season, when AI-driven traffic jumped 1,300%, and Cyber Monday alone saw a 1,950% spike. Since then, the momentum has only grown—up 1,100% in January and 3,100% in April this year
Are People Actually Buying? Yes—and more than before. While AI-driven traffic was initially less likely to convert into purchases, that gap is closing fast. In July, it was only 23% less likely to convert, down from 49% in JanuaryRevenue from AI-driven visits has also jumped 84% since the start of the year
Mobile Matters
More shoppers are using AI tools on their phones, which often leads to quicker, more impulsive purchases. Mobile traffic from AI sources rose from 18% in January to 26% in July
What Are People Using AI For?
Adobe’s survey of 5,000 U.S. consumers revealed that people are using generative AI for:
- Product research (53%)
- Recommendations (40%)
- Finding deals (36%)
- Creating shopping lists (30%)
- Virtual try-ons (26%)
And the feedback is overwhelmingly positive—85% said AI improved their shopping experience, and 73% use it as their go-to research tool
