Survey finds US adults want AI for gift ideas but not payment handling

A recent survey indicates that while more US adults are willing to use artificial intelligence to help find gifts this holiday season, very few want a bot to handle their payment details, according to CNET.

The data shows a notable shift in consumer behavior regarding holiday shopping assistance. Far more people expressed willingness to use AI for gift-finding tasks than did so last year, according to the report published by CNET. This suggests growing comfort with AI as a research or recommendation tool during the busy shopping period.

Despite this increased adoption for informational tasks, the survey reveals strong resistance to financial automation. Few respondents indicated they would allow an artificial intelligence bot to process payments or manage financial transactions, according to CNET. The findings point to a clear boundary between acceptable and unacceptable AI roles in the consumer purchasing journey.

Consumer Attitudes Toward AI Utility

The survey results highlight a growing acceptance of artificial intelligence as a practical aid for decision-making. Respondents are increasingly open to leveraging these tools to navigate the complexities of holiday gift selection, according to CNET. This marks an increase in participation rates compared to the previous year’s data.

The specific application of AI for identifying suitable gifts appears to be a primary driver of this adoption. Consumers seem to view the technology as a helpful resource for brainstorming and discovery, rather than as a replacement for human judgment in the final stages of a transaction, according to the report.

Security and Financial Trust Concerns

While AI utility gains ground, financial trust remains limited. The survey found that few US adults are prepared to hand over control of their payment details to an artificial intelligence system, according to CNET. This hesitation persists even as consumers embrace AI for other aspects of the shopping experience.

The reluctance to use AI for payments underscores a continued preference for human oversight in financial matters. Consumers appear to distinguish between the convenience of AI-driven recommendations and the security implications of automated transactions, according to the findings.

What should you do?

As consumers navigate the holiday shopping season with increased reliance on AI tools, maintaining clear boundaries between assistance and automation is advisable. Users should verify that any AI-powered shopping assistant does not require full access to financial credentials for basic recommendation functions.

What to do and how to stay safe: AI

• Review the privacy settings of any AI-powered shopping tools to ensure financial data is not stored or processed without explicit consent.
• Verify that AI assistants used for gift recommendations operate on a read-only basis regarding payment methods and transaction history.
• Monitor bank and credit card statements regularly for any unauthorized transactions when using new digital shopping assistants.
• Use dedicated browser profiles or private browsing modes when interacting with AI shopping tools to limit tracking and data retention.

Step-by-step guide: Prompt Injection Warning Signs: How to Spot AI Manipulation

General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

Are more people using AI for holiday shopping this year?

Yes, the survey found that far more US adults are willing to use AI to help find gifts compared to last year, according to CNET.

Do consumers trust AI with payment information?

No, the survey indicates that few US adults want a bot to handle their payment details, according to CNET.

What is the main finding of the survey?

The survey finds that while US adults are increasingly ready to use AI for gift selection, they remain hesitant to let AI handle financial transactions, according to CNET.