New research from Bloomreach flags how AI technology is teaching online consumers to shop like humans again

Bloomreach has released a new research report, How AI is Teaching Us To Shop Like Humans Again, which examines AI’s underlying impact on consumer shopping habits and expectations.

Comprising data from two surveys, each conducted with more than 1,000 consumers in the United States, this found the majority of respondents use some form of AI regularly, and nearly 60% have used it to help them shop online. 93% now consider conversational capabilities important.

"For so many years, we’ve been translating the context and emotion of what we were shopping for into keywords and clicks that our computers could understand. Now, conversational AI is allowing us to bring the humanity of that context and emotion back into our digital experiences,” says Raj De Datta, Co-founder and CEO, Bloomreach.

“When 97% of shoppers who have used AI shopping assistants find them helpful, and a majority say these tools help them find products faster…it's clear that shopping is changing for the better.”

Key insights from the report include:

• 67% of respondents are already familiar with AI shopping assistants, and 57.2% have used AI to help them shop online.   

• Among the respondents who have used AI shopping assistants, 97% found them helpful, and 76.8% say these tools helped them decide to purchase items faster than if they were shopping on their own. 

The rise of natural language

• 41.4% of respondents said they are using natural language when searching.

• 61.3% of respondents are interested in a conversational search bar.

Growing trust

64.5% of respondents at least somewhat trust AI answers.

46.2% of respondents believe an AI shopping assistant would offer more honest advice about an outfit than a friend.  

RTIH AI in Retail Awards

RTIH, organiser of the industry leading RTIH Innovation Awards, proudly brings you the first edition of the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, which is now open for entries. 

As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers' businesses.

With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.

Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work - resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.

Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Wednesday, 3rd September.

This will kick off with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room.

Please email our Editor, Scott Thompson, if you have any questions or need further information: scott.thompson@retailtechinnovationhub.com

• Key 2025 dates

  Friday, 18th July: Award entry deadline 

  Tuesday, 22nd July: 2025 finalists revealed

  Wednesday, 23rd July - Friday, 8th August: Judging days

  Wednesday, 3rd September: Winners announced at the 2025 RTIH AI in Retail Awards Ceremony, to be held at The Barbican in Central London.