Black Friday Breaks Records as AI Boosts US Online Sales
Online sales in the United States hit a new record this year on Black Friday. According to Adobe Analytics, online purchases reached $11.8 billion in 2025, marking a 9.1% increase compared to last year. Analysts say AI-powered shopping assistants and chatbots played a leading role behind this surge, Reuters reported.
Amid economic pressure, inflation, and tariff-related concerns, many customers avoided crowds and opted for online shopping instead. Mastercard SpendingPulse reported that online sales on Black Friday rose 10.4%, whereas in-store sales grew only 1.7%.
Adobe added that AI-driven traffic soared by 805% from last year, as AI shopping tools such as Walmart’s “Sparky” and Amazon’s “Rufus” were widely used for the first time. Popular gift items included Lego sets, Pokémon cards, the Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Apple AirPods, and KitchenAid mixers.
Salesforce reported that driven by AI and AI agents, global Black Friday sales reached $14.2 billion, with the United States accounting for $3 billion. The company also stated that total online spending in the US stood at $18 billion.
However, experts noted that due to rising prices, the sense of real discounts was lower than last year. Inflation and increased tariffs have made it difficult for retailers to offer big markdowns, slightly diminishing the actual value of Black Friday for many consumers.
DBTech / BMT / OR
