Gen Z shoppers lead all generations in using AI for purchases

Key Stat: 61% of Gen Z shoppers used AI tools to help with a purchase in the last year, according to a September 2025 survey from PayPal.

Beyond the chart:

• The enthusiasm isn't theoretical. Half of Gen Zers and 49% of millennials would hand over gift-buying responsibility to AI if it meant avoiding stress, according to a November Mastercard and Harris Poll survey.
• Meanwhile, trust in AI purchasing is climbing across all ages. 42% of US shoppers would allow agents to purchase on their behalf if they could guarantee securing the best price, according to YouGov.

Use this chart: Drop this in your next customer segmentation review to show why AI-powered shopping features should target Gen Z first. Use it to justify building AI product recommendations and virtual try-on tools, since 61% of Gen Z is already comfortable with AI assistance.

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Methodology: Data is from the October 2025 PayPal "2025 Holiday Shopping Survey" conducted by Talker Research. 1,000 nationally representative US adults were surveyed online during September 5-9, 2025. Percentages for AI data reflect respondents who have used or considered using AI tools to help with a purchase within the past year. Percentages for buy now, pay later (BNPL) data reflect respondents who have ever used or considered using BNPL to make a purchase.