🛍️Top 7 Worst Ways to Use AI for Shopping

(And a few smart ones too!)

Nowadays, people tend to integrate AI into all spheres of their lives. Shopping is on the list, but it can quickly turn into a nightmare if not managed properly. If you rely on its recommendations blindly or assign the wrong tasks, be ready to experience disappointment, buyer’s remorse (shown by 60% of Gen Z), or even overspending.

We’ve put together a list of the 7 worst ways to use AI when shopping. We have also included some helpful tips on how to avoid these pitfalls!

🤖 1. You Use a Specific AI Tool (The AI Monogamy Mistake)

• The Mistake: You love ChatGPT, choose only Google’s Gemini, or talk to Alexa daily. And you surely believe that your tool is the best! Well, there is no single AI tool that can guarantee a better answer than any other. Each model has its strengths and weaknesses.
• The Smart Approach: Ask 3-4 different AIs the same question (especially about product comparisons or summaries). Afterward, compare the answers and choose the advice that best fits your goal or budget.

❌ 2. You Fail to Fact-Check AI Information (The Blind Trust Trap)

• The Mistake: Although technology is advancing, Large Language Models (LLMs) tend to “hallucinate”. Accordingly, they can provide incorrect pricing, availability, or product details that mislead you. Unfortunately, they often prioritize sounding confident over being accurate.
• The Smart Approach: Always assume that the provided AI information is your draft. Then, you can immediately search for it on Google to confirm the price and stock.

To force the AI to verify its own facts, use a critical prompt like: “Critique your previous answer about [Product X]. Find two conflicting facts (e.g., lower price, better warranty) from reliable sources, or list reasons why the deal might be misleading.”

💸 3. You Ask the AI to Choose an Expensive Purchase (The Responsibility Dump)

• The Mistake: You over-rely on AI to make a final decision on major purchases, such as a new TV or laptop. Whereas the AI may miss key details or skew towards popular, but not necessarily best-fitting models. Eventually, it will lead to significant buyer’s remorse later.
• The Smart Approach: Utilize AI for analysis, not decision-making. Ensure that you input the specifications of several models and ask the AI to generate a detailed comparative table.

To prevent future regret, use these prompts:

• “List red flags for this product so I don’t regret buying it later (e.g., common failure points, poor customer service, known performance issues).”

• “Suggest to me alternatives that offer better value for money.”

📍4. You Ask the AI If a Product Is Sold Near You (The Location Overload)

• The Mistake: You attempt to ask AI to locate real-time, hyperlocal inventory. In the meantime, the probability that an AI will give a better answer for nearby stock than Google Maps or Apple Maps is virtually zero.
• The Smart Approach: Input a few store addresses and ask the AI to create the most optimal, time-saving shopping route for your physical list.

📉 5. You Ask the AI to Generate the Top 10 Stores With the Best Discounts (The Impossible Forecast)

• The Mistake: AI cannot accurately predict which store will have the absolute best discount on any given day or product across all categories. Pricing is too dynamic today!
• The Smart Approach: Ask the AI to summarize current deals from major retailers, such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Next, search for specific products within the summarized deals yourself.

🎁 6. You Let AI Choose the Gifts (The Thoughtless Gift)

• The Mistake: You ask vague and general questions, such as, “What should I get my brother for $50?” Consequently, such a query results in non-specific gifts that lack a personal touch.
• The Smart Approach: Provide the AI with more context, such as their interests, age, or job position. Feel free to use this formula: 

“[Recipient] is a [Age Range/Life Stage] who is passionate about [Hobby 1] and [Hobby 2]. I have a budget of [$X]. Suggest [Number] thoughtful gifts.”

🚫 7. You Use AI to Generate and Execute a Transactional Bot (The Bot Ban Risk)

• The Mistake: You try to use an AI to write code or create a script that automatically buys a minimal product for you. However, this violates most platform Terms of Service. This way, you will only guarantee that your order is canceled or your account is flagged.
• The Smart Approach: Utilize AI to craft compelling and polite customer service emails in advance. Use them in case you need to dispute a double charge or request a price match after purchase.

💡Shop Smart, Not Hard

AI can be a powerful tool for shopping, but it’s essential to use it wisely. By following the smart approaches outlined in this article, you will take your shopping experience to a new level without falling into common traps.

Main advice: Always double-check information to remain in control of your decisions and achieve optimal results.