Willingness to delegate purchases to AI up to 11%… narrowing down options highest for household goods at 31%

Only up to 11% of U.S. consumers are willing to hand final purchase decisions to AI, even for low-risk categories, according to a Gartner survey of 322 U.S. consumers conducted in January 2026 and published May 27. Willingness to let AI narrow choices was higher, at 31% for household goods and 28% for personal electronics, indicating consumers distinguish between using AI for product research and comparison and delegating the final selection. Gartner marketing vice president analyst Kate Muhl said shoppers use AI to get better information and compare prices rather than to surrender the decision itself. The gap matters for retailers and brands investing in AI shopping tools, since adoption may hinge on assistive features rather than full autonomy. Next, watch whether AI-assisted narrowing converts into higher delegation rates as tools mature and consumers grow more comfortable with them.