Artificial intelligence reshaped consumer behavior during the 2025 holiday season, with AI-driven referrals growing sharply across industries—particularly in retail, which saw a 693% year-over-year surge.
Key Takeaways
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Retail leads AI transformation: AI referrals in retail rose 693% YoY.
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AI traffic delivers quality results: Consumers driven by AI engaged 14% more, spent 45% longer on sites, and generated 32% more revenue per visit than non-AI sources.
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Adoption varies by region and income: High-income and urban areas drive most AI usage, while southern and rural states lag, suggesting marketers must tailor outreach by geography and awareness level.
Additional Resource
8th & Walton’s Terry Clear offers tips on how suppliers can leverage Walmart’s recent AI partnership with Google Gemini.
