New study reveals how AI is reshaping how people shop online — but they still don't really trust it enough

A recent study indicates AI search engines like ChatGPT and Gemini are now primary tools for online product discovery, surpassing social media. However, despite this adoption, AI-driven recommendations haven't yet boosted sales significantly, suggesting a trust gap persists among consumers.
Key takeaways
- AI search now leads product discovery over social media
- Consumers use AI for initial product exploration
- AI recommendations are not yet driving significant sales
- Trust remains a barrier to AI-influenced purchasing
Why it matters
For professionals leveraging AI tools, this highlights a critical disconnect. While AI excels at surfacing options, its ability to drive purchasing decisions is limited. Businesses need to focus on building trust and demonstrating tangible value beyond initial discovery to convert AI-assisted interest into sales.
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