How to shop with AI: 6 ways I find deals, price track, and let agents buy for me

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• AI tools can do product research, compare options, and find deals for you.
• It’s easier than ever to get gift ideas, track prices, and visually search.
• In some cases, AI can even auto-buy or bring you right to checkout.

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Shopping online is easier than ever. Remember when you had to juggle 20 tabs, read through endless reviews and buyer’s guides, and hunt through promo code sites to find a good deal? In 2025, AI can do all that for you. From researching products and comparing prices to finding deals and even carrying you all the way to checkout, the process is easy and, dare I say, fun.

As someone who loves tech and loves to shop online, I’ve found AI to be a game changer. There are so many tools now, and more popping up almost daily. Whether you’re asking ChatGPT for gift ideas, letting Google’s AI Mode scan real-time listings across retailers, or using Copilot in Edge to compare products in your open tabs, AI can save you serious time and money. 

But with so many options, which ones are actually worth trying?

Also: Our favorite Cyber Monday deals are still live: Shop Amazon, Best Buy, Lowe’s sales now

Below, I break down the most useful AI shopping assistants and how to use them. Your wallet can thank me later.

1. Use ChatGPT for gift ideas

I’ve used ChatGPT for product research for a while now, and I’ve let its agent mode handle my Walmart shopping for me and even find me cheap Disney on Ice tickets. But OpenAI recently rolled out a new Shopping Research tool that’s especially fun to try. Simply tell ChatGPT what you’re looking for, and it will interactively build a customized gift guide. For example, tell it:

“I need a unique gift for my husband who loves professional tools, PS5 and handheld gaming, and vintage Miami Hurricanes college football. Keep it under $150.”

ChatGPT will ask a few follow-up questions about your preferences. Once you’re done specifying styles, brands, and features you’d like to see from its product recommendations, it’ll comb the web for up-to-date info and items.

Also: How to use ChatGPT: A beginner’s guide to the most popular AI chatbot

For me, it recommended a PlayStation Portal remote player (something I’ve been eyeing), a Hori Fighting Stick for PS5 (cool, though he’s more into sports and survival games), a pliers set (he has plenty), and a Leatherman (he’d lose it in a month). It also suggested a Gino Torretta autographed photo and an autographed Miami vs. FSU game program from October 2000.

I asked my husband if he knew who Gino is, and he gave me an incredulous look and said, “Oh, you mean one of Miami’s two Heisman winners?” I then asked about the Miami vs. FSU program, and he went, “Wide Right III, one of Miami’s most famous games.” So I had to ask what he’d think if he got the Miami stuff for Christmas. He smiled — big. ChatGPT wins here for gift inspo.

How to use:

1. Open ChatGPT and start a new chat.
2. Tell it what you’re shopping for, like “ANC headphones under $200.”
3. Select Shopping Research from the prompt field drop-down.
4. Answer any follow-up questions to refine preferences.
5. ChatGPT will return product options with specs, comparisons, and prices.
6. Click through links to view products and verify pricing.

Also: My 8 ChatGPT Agent tests produced only 1 near-perfect result – and a lot of alternative facts

Pro tip: Switch to Agent in the drop-down, and you can ask ChatGPT to buy the items it recommended. It can’t complete checkout, but it can take over, open retailer pages, add items to your cart, and bring you to checkout. Unfortunately, as of December 2025, it cannot pull new Amazon data because its shopping bots are blocked on that site. Amazon also blocks Google’s shopping bots.

2. Search with Google’s AI Mode

I want to get my 4-year-old a Roku TV for her playroom, but I don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars, and she doesn’t need a huge screen. Ideally, I’d like to spend $200 or less ($100 preferably), and the screen can be as small as 24 inches. But I want 4K and Roku. It feels weird to buy an HDTV today, and our whole house has Roku, so I’d like to stick with what my daughter knows.

Also: I let Google’s new AI tools take on my holiday shopping list – here’s how it went

Like anyone, I usually search for products on Google, but wading through a sea of blue links and the product carousel often makes me wonder if I’m not seeing everything or missing a good deal. With Google’s AI Mode, I can ask product questions naturally, much like I would in ChatGPT, and it scans through Google’s huge inventory and real-time shopping data.

AI Mode can simultaneously retrieve listings from multiple retailers, including price comparisons. It is visual and much easier to digest than classic search results. So, I flipped over to that tab and searched:

“Best small Roku 4K TV under $100.”

Unfortunately, AI Mode told me that a small Roku TV with 4K resolution does not currently exist under $100, but there are 4K Roku TVs starting at 43 inches for around $180. It also said Roku TVs under $100 are typically 32 inches with HD resolution. From there, it listed an $88 Onn 32-inch model at Walmart and a $129 Roku Select 32-inch model at Target (both 1080p).

Below that, Gemini showed a table of 4K Roku TVs over $100, including 43-inch models from TCL, Roku, and Westinghouse, each around $178. At that point, I felt like I had enough information. Back in the day, it would have taken me hours to do this research. 

How to use:

1. Open Chrome or the Google app.
2. Search naturally, like “Best small Roku 4K TV under $100.”
3. Select AI Mode when searching or click the AI Mode tab.
4. Review the results and product cards with prices and specs.
5. You can ask follow-ups, such as “Show me the cheapest Roku 4K TV.”
6. Click through to buy.

3. Use Copilot in Edge to compare

If you use Edge, it now has a Copilot Mode that can analyze any page you’re on, compare multiple products across tabs, summarize reviews and videos, remember your research days later, and even load items into your cart when you’re ready to buy.

Also: I tested all of Edge’s new AI browser features – and it felt like having a personal assistant

I recently tested it by hunting for a new space heater. Similar to ChatGPT Atlas, it has a search bar that doubles as a prompt field. Instead of defaulting to Bing, it figures out whether you’re trying to search the web, open a site, or chat with Copilot based on intent.

After enabling Copilot Mode (at aka.ms/copilot-mode), I searched:

“Best energy-efficient heaters for large rooms.”

Instead of sending me to traditional search results, it switched into chat and surfaced heater listings, including ones on Amazon. I opened a few of them and asked: “Compare my open tabs and tell me which heater is the best mix of power and efficiency.” Copilot then pulled every spec into a comparison chart, including wattage, room size, energy efficiency, safety features, noise level, price, and more.

It recommended the Dr. Infrared Heater for performance and the Dreo for efficiency. When I asked which would cost less to run in winter, it used my local electricity estimates and picked Dreo again. I also had it summarize a YouTube review on the Dreo and the comment section so I didn’t have to watch it and could get a better understanding of real-world performance.

Finally, I tested Copilot Actions in Edge, which is a type of agent that allows the browser to perform tasks on your behalf. After enabling it (Settings > Copilot Mode Settings > AI Innovations > Actions in Edge Preview), I typed “Buy the Dreo smart wall heater on Amazon.” Copilot found it, opened the listing, added it to my cart, and brought me to the payment screen.

I really like that Copilot in Edge still works with Amazon. For whatever reason, it’s not blocked yet, so you can see up-to-date info.

How to use:

1. Open Edge and enable Copilot Mode (aka.ms/copilot-mode).
2. Use the search bar like a prompt, e.g., “Best energy-efficient heaters.”
3. Switch to Copilot chat when results appear.
4. Open product pages in tabs, then ask Copilot to compare them.
5. View the auto-generated chart of specs, pricing, and efficiency.
6. Ask follow-ups like “Which costs less to run in New York winters?”
7. Use Copilot to instantly summarize reviews or YouTube videos.
8. Enable Actions (Settings > Copilot Mode Settings > AI Innovations > Actions).
9. Try a task command, like “Buy the Dreo smart wall heater on Amazon.”
10. Review your cart and checkout manually to complete the purchase.

4. Rufus can price track on Amazon

Aside from Copilot in Edge, there are not many ways to browse Amazon using AI tools. Perhaps that is because Amazon has built its own assistant called Rufus and blocks competing bots. Rufus is integrated directly into the Amazon app and website. 

Also: Cyber Monday is over, but you can still shop my favorite Amazon sales on Hisense, Oura, and Apple

Rufus can answer specific questions, such as “I need a Christmas gift for my husband who is into woodworking and Dewalt tools,” and it’ll respond with product suggestions across relevant categories. It can summarize reviews, compare items, and answer all your questions on product pages. It may also personalize recommendations based on your Amazon history.

It can even show products from other retailers on the web. For me, it suggested a Dewalt Pro Wood Chisel set from Amazon, as well as other items on Amazon that I would consider less useful, such as a magnetic wristband for drill bits and a headlamp. But below that, it surfaced a custom “man cave” sign from bechmarkcustomsigns.com and a wood carving knife from woodcarvingtools.com.

I had never heard of those sites, so this is where Rufus feels a little wonky.

But Rufus can really shine inside the Amazon mobile app. There, it’s able to add items to your cart, track prices, or auto-buy when a deal hits your target. For example, on the Dewalt chisel set page, I tapped the Rufus icon in the bottom menu drawer and said:

“Set up a price alert for the Dewalt chisel set, and if it hits below $15, buy it.”

Rufus then asked me to confirm the details, showed me the 30-day price low, and let me enable auto-buy. At the bottom, there was a button to manage price alerts. So while Google and ChatGPT cannot help me much with products on Amazon, Rufus knows Amazon’s entire catalog and can hunt deals or even shop for me. It is fast, intuitive, and ideal for Amazon shoppers.

How to use:

1. Open the Amazon app or website and look for the Rufus icon.
2. Ask naturally, like “Gift ideas for someone who loves Dewalt tools.”
3. Browse the suggestions and ask about price, features, or alternatives.
4. To track a deal, open a page in the Amazon app and tap the Rufus icon.
5. Say something like “Set a price alert for this item” or “Auto-buy under $15.”
6. Confirm details, enable auto-buy if desired, and manage alerts from the price alert menu.

5. Walmart has Sparky, but it’s limited

Similar to Rufus, Walmart launched its own AI assistant called Sparky, built into the Walmart mobile app. It works across Walmart, including on groceries. Sparky can summarize reviews, compare similar items, suggest gifts, or help plan shopping lists. For example, ask “I need a present for a dinosaur-loving 4-year-old,” and it will generate ideas with listings you can browse.

Also: The best Walmart Cyber Monday deals are still live: Shop the top 35 sales while you can

You can refine results by adding a budget or style preference, but if you ask it to buy something for you, Sparky will tell you it is still learning and cannot change your cart. You can tap “Add” on the listings it shows to put items in your cart. If you ask it to track prices or show you a 30-day low for products, it will not do that. So, Sparky is helpful for ideas, but it’s very limited.

Why mention it?

Over the last year, I became a Walmart+ member and find myself using Amazon less because Walmart can deliver in about an hour. I live rurally, and Amazon shipments often take a week, even with Prime. So if I need something fast, Walmart is my go-to app.

Sparky is there if I want suggestions, and it is easier than searching manually. It recommended specific toys for my 4-year-old instead of dumping every dinosaur-related item it carries.

How to use:

1. Open the Walmart app and tap the Sparky icon in the bottom drawer.
2. Ask naturally, like “Gift ideas for a dinosaur-loving 4-year-old.”
3. Browse the products and tap Add to place items in your cart.
4. Refine with follow-ups such as “Under $20.”
5. Use Sparky for ideas, comparisons, and review summaries.

6. Prefer to buy small? Try Shop

If you prefer to shop across smaller brands, Shop by Shopify is worth a look. The mobile app includes an AI shopping assistant that pulls from many Shopify stores. Tap the search icon in the bottom drawer and then select “Chat with Shop AI.” The interface merges both a chat and a product feed, and as you describe what you want, results update instantly. You can refine preferences as you go.

Also: Should you trust AI agents with your holiday shopping? Here’s what experts want you to know

The assistant remembers past conversations, personal style notes, size, and material preferences. It will not price track or buy products for you, instead prompting you to view and purchase directly from the listings. It is also more boutique than big box, but that also makes it great for finding unique products and supporting smaller retailers and sellers.

For instance, I need a Christmas present for my stepdad, so I searched, “I need gift ideas for someone who hikes and loves coffee.” It showed me a $4 Hiker’s Brew Coffee travel packet from Trail Addict Shop. Super specific. It also suggested a discounted AeroPress Go that I could buy from Alternative Brewing instead of Amazon or Walmart.

How to use:

1. Install and open the Shop app, then tap the search icon.
2. Select “Chat with Shop AI.”
3. Describe what you need, like “Gift ideas for someone who loves coffee.”
4. Browse the suggestions. Refine with style, size, material, or preferences.
5. Scroll the product feed and tap through to purchase from individual sellers.

Bonus tip: Visual search

There are quite literally hundreds of smaller AI tools out there that can help you find the right product at the best price, but we would be here all day if I listed them all. To wrap up this guide, here is one more tip I use almost every time I shop: visual search.

It’s incredibly useful, allowing you to upload photos or screenshots to find products. Love that water bottle at your friend’s house, but they don’t know where it came from? Snap a photo of it and use visual search to find it. In the Amazon mobile app, there is a camera button in the search bar that you can use to upload photos. It can find exact matches or close alternatives.

Pinterest even has a camera button, and it will show similar pins and product listings to browse.

Also: 7 ways I use Google Lens every day – and why it’s one of my favorite AI apps

My favorite method is using Google Lens. Open the Google app, tap the camera icon, point it at something, or upload a screenshot. Lens will identify items and find similar ones across retailers. It is incredibly accurate and honestly addicting to use.

One of the things I love to do with Lens is identify vintage coats, shoes, and clothing worn in classic movies. Just the other day, I used it to identify the red puffer jacket Tim Allen wears at the beginning of The Santa Clause. Seriously.