Four-in-10 online shoppers have used AI-enabled search.

The likelihood of customers to shop for products online with assistance from artificial intelligence varies by demographic.

Four-in-10 overall consumers surveyed by product content optimization platform Lily AI said they have experimented with a new AI-powered search engine to assist them. More men (56%) said they have used these newer AI technologies for shopping than women (32%).

More than half of Gen Z respondents (51%) have used AI-based search tools, such as ChatGPT, for shopping. The usage rate was lower for respondents in the millennial (45%), Gen X (32%) and baby boomer (22%) generations.

[READ MORE: Study: Consumers using generative AI for search help, recommendations]

Quality online search is critical

The survey also revealed the importance of a convenient online search experience to customer satisfaction. Eight-in-10 respondents have given up on a search because they couldn’t find what they wanted. 

In addition, 85% of respondents overall, including 87% of women and 82% of men, said they would consider purchasing a similar item from another brand if they weren’t able to find what they were looking for from the brand they originally had in mind. 

Close to six-in-10 respondents (57%) reported using a retailer’s search bar and said it’s important for the results to be relevant and aligned with their specific search phrases.  Two-in-three respondents believe that retailers use descriptions that make it challenging for them to find what they want, such as using “cardinal luxe sweater” instead of “red cashmere sweater.”