EXCLUSIVE: Here’s how luxury shoppers are using generative AI
Consumers shopping for luxury products show some specific behavioral patterns regarding a popular next-gen artificial intelligence model.
During the 2025 Black Friday to Cyber Monday period, search activity on the Algolia AI platform dropped 49% year over year, despite notable year over year increases in other categories such as apparel, home goods and pets.
Results of a survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers conducted by Algolia and exclusively released to reveals almost one in five (18%) respondents plan to purchase a luxury item worth at least $750 this year, indicating interest in the luxury category is not declining.
[READ MORE: Saks Global survey finds growing optimism among luxury consumers]
However, Algolia data suggests that due to the research-intensive nature of luxury shopping, many consumers are leveraging generative AI to help inform their luxury purchases:
- One in three respondents use generative AI to plan a luxury trip within budget, including nearly half (49%) of respondents with a household income of more than $200,000.
- Thirty-four percent of respondents use generative AI to evaluate long-term value, durability, or cost-per-use of a luxury item, including 30% of consumers with a household income of more than $200,000.
- Forty-four percent of respondents use generative AI to determine which items are worth paying more for, which is also true for 49% of respondents with a household income of more than $200,000.
- Thirty-six percent of respondents use generative AI to customize luxury purchases rather than defaulting to the most expensive option.
Luxury discovery becomes more distributed
According to Algolia research, luxury shoppers are leveraging generative AI to research product attributes such as whether an item is “worth it,” how it compares to alternatives, how long it will last and how it fits their personal preferences.
Other findings
- More than half (53%) of respondents would use AI image search to support luxury purchase decisions.
- More than four-in-10 (42%) respondents would use a brand’s AI-driven shopping guide.
- Close to half (46%) of respondents are interested in AI-based personalization to help guide luxury purchases.
According to Algolia analysis, generative AI tools and platforms like ChatGPT have made it easier than ever to heavily research high-end products across multiple retailers.
Therefore, retailers need to ensure they remain discoverable, accurate, and relevant wherever generative AI evaluation happens. This includes prioritizing product data quality, real-time availability, and clear product differentiation across the broader digital shopping ecosystem.
