Brits turn to AI to enhance Christmas shopping experience

More than a quarter of UK shoppers are open to exploring using AI this Christmas to enhance their shopping experience.

With more than half (56 per cent) of consumers concerned about going into credit card debt this year, according to new data from Klarna, those open to using AI plan to use it to find deals and discounts, compare prices and manage their budgets.

More than a third (36 per cent) think they will not be able to pay off their holiday credit card bills in full this year, and 82 per cent said they would find it helpful to have the option of spreading the costs of their shopping.

“Klarna’s new research unveils a broader narrative of financial mindfulness and careful spending this holiday season amidst a challenging economic landscape and credit card debt concerns,”  Klarna head of Western and Southern Europe, UK and Ireland Raji Behal said.

“Over half of UK consumers are wary about credit card debt this season, with over one in three doubting their ability to pay off their holiday credit card bills entirely.”

60 per cent of UK consumers said that rising prices have altered their approach to holiday shopping, and 65 per cent said they were reducing spending on non-essential items to maximise value.

“Given this backdrop, it's no surprise that 82 per cent of shoppers find interest-free payment options like BNPL appealing as they also lean into budget-smart choices, harnessing tech-savvy tools like AI to nab the best deals, and shopping sales events like Black Friday to save money on big purchases,” she added.

According to recent data from Marqeta, more than 12 million Brits plan to use payment options like BNPL this Christmas to make ends meet.