As the holiday rush approaches, artificial intelligence (AI) is fast becoming Canada’s newest shopping companion — helping consumers save money, find deals, and even try on outfits virtually before hitting “buy.”
According to Google Canada, 2025 will mark the first truly AI-powered holiday shopping season, as inflation and tight budgets push Canadians to seek smarter, stress-free ways to shop.
AI transforms holiday shopping
In a presentation to media this week, Google executives said 43 per cent of Canadians plan to use AI to help with their holiday purchases this year. Gen Z and millennials with above-average incomes are leading the trend, using AI tools for everything from inspiration to purchase and even post-purchase setup.
“Consumers want confidence in what they’re buying — not just the best price, but quality and convenience too,” said Eric Morris, Google’s managing director of retail in Canada.
Google’s research found 63 per cent of users believe AI can help reduce last-minute stress, while a quarter say it helps them find gifts within their budgets.
How Canadians are using AI
Canadians are turning to AI-powered tools like Google Lens and Circle to Search to streamline shopping. Google Lens allows users to take a photo of a product and instantly find similar items for sale online, while Circle to Search lets them shop directly from any app or video without switching screens.
“Just circle what you saw and get more information right where you are,” explained Danielle Buckley, Google’s director of product management. She said one in four Google Lens searches is now shopping-related.
Google’s shopping graph — the massive AI engine behind these tools — now includes over 50 billion products, updated two billion times every hour, ensuring shoppers get current prices, reviews, and availability.
The rise of virtual try-ons
Among the most talked-about innovations is Google’s AI apparel try-on feature, which lets users see how clothing or footwear would look on their own bodies. By uploading a full-length photo, shoppers can generate a lifelike preview of themselves wearing the product — helping to reduce the uncertainty of online fashion purchases.
“Seventy per cent of users who tried virtual try-ons said it made their experience more enjoyable,” Buckley said. “People are sharing their try-on images far more than standard product listings. It’s creating a new, social way to shop.”
From stress to satisfaction
Google Canada’s Alyza Keshavjee, head of consumer insights, said Canadians are relying on AI not only to find gifts but also to ease the mental load of holiday shopping.
In one example, Keshavjee said she used Google’s Gemini chatbot to plan decorations for her toddler’s Halloween party. “I compared features, deals, and even watched YouTube setup tutorials — AI truly became my shopping companion,” she said.
As inflation continues to weigh on household budgets, AI-powered shopping may be the season’s ultimate stress reliever — blending convenience, creativity, and confidence in a single click.