Meet Your New AI Shopping Assistant
As you might imagine, I am a total and utter addict when it comes to industry studies and other data releases. So when Provoke Insights released their Grocery Trends & Consumer Buying Behaviors Study, Summer 2025 edition, it instantly caught my attention.
Amongst tons of data that I expected (everything is really expensive and how consumers are coping) there was a truly innovative segment: Consumer Interest in AI Shopping Features
One of the findings that I found most interesting was that half of consumers now want AI to track prices and compare deals for them.
Not a flashy robot or a sci‑fi gadget—just a smart, invisible assistant making sure they’re not overpaying. And that’s only the beginning.
The shift underway
According to Provoke Insights, consumers are showing clear preferences for AI‑driven shopping features:
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Half of shoppers want automated price tracking and comparisons. (that's a "yes please" from me too)
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Nearly two in five want grocery list optimization, especially Gen Z, Millennials, and parents.
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The same share—38 percent—are looking for personalized discounts and offers.
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A third would like smart inventory alerts, with parents leading this group.
Smaller but still notable shares are interested in trip planning (24 percent), chatbots for recommendations (20 percent), and voice shopping (13 percent).
Urban and rural splits tell an important part of the story. Urban consumers are more likely to want voice shopping (20 percent) and chatbots for recommendations (26 percent), while rural interest lags significantly. In contrast, inventory alerts and list optimization resonate more broadly across geographies, reflecting universal concerns with budgets and waste. These differences suggest that AI adoption will not be uniform: urban households lean into convenience tech, while broader populations prioritize cost savings and reliability.
What we’re witnessing is a redefinition of what consumers consider useful. AI is shifting from novelty to necessity—valued most when it saves time, reduces waste, or stretches budgets.
Grocery list optimization: more than auto‑fill
“List optimization” sounds simple, but it represents a structural change in how households shop.
AI can cross‑check what’s in the fridge and remove duplicates, cutting waste. It can re‑order baskets to favor sale items or seasonal produce, instantly testing brand loyalty against price sensitivity. It can align with nutrition preferences—protein goals, plant‑based eating, gluten‑free diets—turning health priorities into default shopping behaviors. And increasingly, lists are pushed directly into platforms like Instacart or Walmart for seamless re‑ordering.
We use Instacart in our family a fair bit - my initial justification for it was that it cuts down on the "oh shiny" impulse purchases at Costco, making it possible to shop there without spending a small fortune. For me, uploading my shopping list and getting it optimized for value, freshness or health would be amazing.
It’s no wonder nearly 40 percent of consumers say they want this: it reduces friction while aligning shopping with budgets, health, and sustainability.
Why it matters for brands
The implications for food and CPG companies are significant. Being on the list has become the new shelf placement. If the algorithm doesn’t recommend you, you’re invisible. Price comparisons expose elasticity instantly, eroding weak loyalties. Promotions that don’t match household habits are ignored. And stockouts carry bigger risks—inventory alerts may push consumers to switch loyalties if you’re not available.
This isn’t just about how people shop. It’s about what makes it into the cart—and what gets left behind.
How brands can prepare
Forward‑thinking companies are already adapting. Some are running simulations to see if their products show up in AI‑optimized baskets under different household scenarios. Others are exploring partnerships with grocery apps and smart devices to become a preferred default. Promotion strategies are shifting from broad discounts to tailored offers like: “Your usual oat milk is $1 off this week.” And because list optimization reduces waste, sustainability cues are becoming even more powerful drivers of algorithmic preference.
What comes next
At 6 Seeds, we’re already testing how products perform in AI‑curated lists, modeling which promotions surface most often, and helping brands position themselves as AI‑friendly choices—not casualties. The goal is simple: ensure your product is more likely to be recommended than replaced.
The outcome? A sharper understanding of whether your brand is at risk of being filtered out—or primed to be the algorithm’s first choice.
A closing question If an AI assistant built your customer’s grocery list tomorrow, would your brand make the cut?
Or would a cheaper, healthier, or more available alternative quietly take your place?
I’d love to hear how you’re preparing for the era of AI shopping assistants.