EY survey reveals 61% of shoppers already use AI for grocery decisions
EY’s associate director Richard Rome said 61% of respondents have used AI to help with grocery decisions, according to a September 2026 survey. About 40% of respondents expect an AI shopping agent to reduce their shopping bill before they would delegate the task.
Fifty‑eight percent would consider handing over an online shop if AI saved them up to 30 minutes a week, while 47% said the same for an in‑store trip. Families with children under 18 stood out: 70% fell into the potential early‑adopter group. The research also noted that most people spend about an hour a week on their large shop.
“The number one driver by far was saving money,” Richard Rome, associate director, consumer industry at EY said.
EY’s report, What Happens When Shoppers No Longer Do the Shopping?, examines how AI assistants could shift grocery purchasing decisions from shoppers to algorithms. A retailer‑agnostic assistant that works across supermarkets is not yet available at scale.
What we know
61% of respondents have used AI to help with grocery decisions
40% of respondents expect an AI shopping agent to reduce their shopping bill before they would delegate the task
58% would consider handing over an online shop if AI saved them up to 30 minutes a week
70% of families with children under 18 fell into the potential early‑adopter group
shoppers spend about an hour a week doing their large shop