What happens when algorithms start choosing your gifts for you, and an entire generation grows up thinking that is normal? Black Friday 2025 shattered records with $11.8 billion in online spending, but the real headline was what drove those sales: AI-powered shopping tools that surged 805% year over year.
In this episode, generational futurist and keynote speaker Ryan Vet examines what Black Friday reveals about the collision of AI adoption and generational consumer behavior. He traces the gift-giving pendulum from the Silent Generation’s frugal, handmade presents to Boomers’ overflowing Christmas trees, from Gen X pumping the brakes to Millennials’ decisive shift toward experiences over things. The data is striking: 68% of Gen Z and 61% of Millennials now prefer gifting experiences, compared to just 23% of Baby Boomers. Ryan explores how Gen Z and Gen Alpha are now the “algorithm kids,” the first generations whose shopping decisions are shaped more by AI recommendations than by brand loyalty, store displays, or even personal browsing.
This episode is for business leaders, marketers, and retail strategists who need to understand how AI and generational shifts are converging to reshape consumer expectations. It is equally valuable for anyone thinking about how algorithmic decision-making is changing the way younger generations relate to choice and trust.
The future of commerce is not just digital — it is algorithmic. To explore the full analysis with data and sources, read the complete essay on Collide.
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