AI Technology Boosts Visitor Numbers for Online Retailers

## GenAI: The Digital Trailblazer

Manhattan’s consumers are finding themselves on a digital adventure, led by the likes of [Adobe Analytics](https://business.adobe.com/products/adobe-analytics.html), who revealed a new trend on March 17, 2025. A significant number of them reach U.S. retail websites through generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) chat links. While its part in the game is still burgeoning compared to big shots like paid search and email, this tech is expanding at breakneck speed—doubling every two months since September 2024, according to [Vivek Pandya](https://blog.adobe.com/authors/vivek-pandya).

### By the Numbers

From July 2024 to February of the following year, the numbers are staggering. GenAI traffic ramped up by 1,200% for retail, 1,700% for travel and leisure, and 1,200% for banking platforms. Consumers tethered to these links tend to hang out 8% longer and flick through 12% more pages. But there’s a hitch. They’re still 9% less inclined to click the purchase button than their counterparts. Yet, don’t count them out just yet—back in July 2024, this gap was a whopping 43%.

### From Chat to Checkout

The conversion gap highlights a fascinating trend. Shoppers are leveraging AI tech merely for intel gathering, holding out on pulling the trigger on purchases. The narrowing of this gap suggests that after a cozy chat with AI, consumers are increasingly comfortable buying. As reported by [PYMNTS](https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2025/03/17/adobe-analytics-traffic-to-us-retail-websites-from-generative-ai-sources-jumps-1200-percent), retailers witnessed a hustle of traffic courtesy of AI-powered searches like ChatGPT, which are enhancing the shopping saga.

## The Changing Retail Landscape

So how’s AI pulling off this retail transformation? [Doriel Abrahams](https://www.linkedin.com/in/doriel-abrahams/), from [Forter](https://www.forter.com/company/), dishes it out simple. AI doesn’t just compare flights with a mere snap—it’s redefining commerce altogether. Recommendations, price checks, and even transactions are right there on your screen.

In December 2023, 44% of urbanites were game for using [chatbots](https://www.pymnts.com/news/artificial-intelligence/2023/the-ai-revolution-in-retail-opportunities-and-risks/) for scoping product info. Fast forward to today, GenAI is turning chats into cash for merchants, as noted by [PYMNTS](https://www.pymnts.com/news/artificial-intelligence/2024/how-ai-is-turning-conversations-into-transactions-for-merchants/).

### Lists and Bullets: Key Developments

– Retail sites: 1,200% increased GenAI traffic
– Travel & Leisure: 1,700% traffic boost
– Bank Platforms: 1,200% traffic surge
– 8% longer site stay for GenAI users
– 12% more pages browsed by GenAI users

## The Road Ahead for Retail

GenAI is here to recalibrate the urban shopping journey, stepping up its role in product discovery. As AI takes root in commerce, who knows? Pick up its trail, and soon, it’ll be your guide for your next Macy’s spree or MoMA gift shop hunt. So, next time you hop online, let AI take the wheel and turn those wishlists into cartfuls.

[Learn more about AI’s impact here](https://www.pymnts.com/artificial-intelligence-2/2024/how-ai-reshaped-retail-in-2024-10-key-developments/).