AI Doing your Christmas Shopping?

Welcome to the Dave vs. AI.

Google just announced that AI is stepping in to handle one more part of your daily life: shopping.

From product discovery to calling stores to actually making purchases, AI will now do it all… with your permission, of course.

And while it’s technically impressive, I’m not sure how I feel about it.

What Google Is Rolling Out

Here’s what’s included in the new AI-powered shopping experience:

Conversational Search

You can describe what you want to buy like you’re talking to a friend.

Example: “Cozy sweaters for happy hour in warm autumn colors.”

No filters. No scrolling through endless pages. Just results that match your description.

Store Calling

Need to know if something is in stock locally?

Google will call the store for you and text you the response.

You don’t have to lift a finger.

Auto-Purchasing with Google Pay

You can track a product’s price, set a budget, and once it hits your price point, Google will buy it for you.

Yes, it asks for permission first. But the decision is already in motion.

The Tradeoff: Convenience vs. Control

On one hand, this is clearly useful.

It saves time, removes friction, and removes the annoying parts of shopping.

But it also shifts control.

Because this isn’t just about search. It’s about decisions.

We’re giving AI permission to make choices on our behalf, and that raises a bigger question.

Where Does This Lead?

First it’s shopping.

Then it’s your calendar.

Your meals.

Your media.

Your daily routines.

AI starts small.

Then it scales.

Then it’s everywhere.

At what point do we stop making our own choices altogether?

Final Thought

I’m not saying this is bad technology.

I’m saying it’s a moment to pause and think.

Convenience is powerful.

But it often comes with tradeoffs we don’t notice until later.

Right now, AI is buying things for us.

What else will we hand off without realizing what we’re giving up?

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Speaking of shopping… Chris found this year's banger holiday gift for kids. It's insane.

Check out the latest episode of the Startup Different Podcast .