AI Emerges as Key Research Tool for Two-Thirds of Shoppers — Clutch Technologies Inc.

Event summary

65% of consumers use AI to research products before purchasing, per Clutch report.
70% of shoppers employ AI tools during online shopping processes.
Only 4% would allow AI to complete a purchase autonomously.
95% express concerns about AI-assisted shopping, citing privacy and bias risks.

The big picture

Clutch's findings highlight the early stages of agentic commerce, where AI serves as a research assistant rather than a decision-maker. The report underscores growing consumer reliance on AI for shopping efficiency while revealing significant trust gaps that could slow broader adoption. This dynamic suggests a gradual evolution toward more autonomous AI shopping tools, contingent on addressing privacy and bias concerns.

What we're watching

Trust Barriers: Whether transparency improvements can accelerate AI's role in higher-risk purchase categories.
Agentic Commerce: The pace at which consumers delegate more purchasing decisions to AI tools.
Category Differences: How comfort levels with AI vary across product types and their impact on adoption curves.