(NewsUSA) - Santa has elves. You have ChatGPT. But is your new chatbot on the naughty or nice list? Before putting artificial intelligence in charge of your gift list, shoppers should understand when AI is actually helping and when it may be stealing some of their holiday joy. 

VML’s Future Shopper report found that the majority of consumers have already tried using AI for shopping, while more than half worldwide plan to check AI for product recommendations this holiday season. 

For those who rely on AI assistants like Muse, Claude, or Alexa as shopping companions, Colleen Kirk, D.P.S., professor of marketing and management at New York Institute of Technology, recommends using these tools thoughtfully when searching for gift ideas or making purchases.

Today’s chatbots have very human-sounding responses, creating the feeling of shopping with a trusted friend. “With voices that mimic human inflections, tone, and emotional cadence, it's easy to forget that when you talk or text with your chatbot, you're not conversing with a human,” Kirk says. 

Kirk, who has researched psychological ownership (feeling a deep personal sense of possession to a product or brand) as well as emotional responses to AI writing, cautions that naming a chatbot further increases feelings of trust and connection which may make shoppers more susceptible to the chatbot’s recommendations.

If an AI chatbot supplies gift ideas before shoppers have thought about the gift recipient themselves, shoppers may lose feelings of ownership and miss an enjoyable part of the process. 

Instead, Kirk encourages consumers to brainstorm their own gift ideas first—then check with AI using specific criteria, like blue wool scarves under $100. Shoppers can also ask their chatbot to suggest ideas they may have missed or poke holes in their choices before making the final gift selection themselves.

Touch, such as handling an item at the store, may also add to the joyful experience of holiday gift giving by enhancing feelings of ownership. When shopping with AI agents, personally adding a gift to the cart and completing the purchase can preserve a sense of ownership. Kirk recommends adding a personal touch, such as a handwritten message or wrapping presents thoughtfully to potentially increase gift-giving joy.

Kirk suggests using AI to buy everyday purchases, like shopping for grocery necessities, may free up time for more enjoyable holiday activities. AI assistants are also helpful for gift suggestions for acquaintances, like an office Secret Santa, while leaving gift ideas for close friends and family to the human shopper. 

Kirk is one of many New York Tech faculty members lending their expertise to help tackle real-world challenges. Visit nyit.edu to learn more. 

(NewsUSA) - Analysis of more than 44 billion emails and 83 million text messages uncovers surprising patterns in when holiday shoppers buy, and what brings them back

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) may be among the biggest shopping days of the holiday season, but new research suggests consumer activity continues well beyond those major promotional events.

During the 2025 peak shopping season, weekend order rates were twice weekday rates, even as brands sent significantly fewer marketing messages. The research also found that customers making their first purchase from a brand during BFCM spent more per order, on average, than repeat customers.

The findings come from Intuit Mailchimp’s Breaking Through Peak Season Noise report, developed with Datalily. The research analyzed more than 44 billion emails and 83 million text messages sent globally through Mailchimp from Halloween through New Year’s Eve 2025, providing insight into consumer behavior during the busiest shopping period of the year.

Here are several key findings from the research.

1. Quieter marketing days can still be strong shopping days

Some of the season’s strongest shopping activity occurred when brands were sending fewer messages.

Weekend order rates were twice weekday rates, while message volume fell by roughly 60% on weekends. On the Sunday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, brands sent 59% fewer emails and 82% fewer text messages than they did on Black Friday.

The findings suggest that holiday shopping activity can continue even when promotional messaging becomes less frequent.

2. Text messages captured shoppers’ attention

Email remained the larger revenue driver overall, but text messaging generated strong engagement during periods of high shopping activity.

During BFCM weekend, SMS averaged a 15.7% click rate per message delivered, compared with 1.4% for email. At peak points during the season, SMS generated up to six times higher order rates than email and three times higher revenue per message.

The results highlight differences in how consumers respond to marketing channels during the holiday shopping season.

3. First-time customers spent more per order

The holiday season also brought new customers to brands. During BFCM weekend, shoppers making their first purchase from a brand accounted for 59% of email-attributed orders and nearly 70% of SMS-attributed orders.

First-time customers also had higher average order values. Through email, average order values for first-time buyers were 21% higher than those of repeat buyers. Through SMS, they were 39% higher.

For businesses, the findings suggest that holiday promotions can provide an opportunity not only to drive purchases but also to reach consumers who are shopping with a brand for the first time.

4. Some shoppers returned after the holidays

For some first-time customers, a holiday purchase was followed by another purchase in the new year.

Among shoppers who made their first purchase during peak season, 16.6% purchased again during the first quarter of 2026. Those who returned made their next purchase after a median of 26 days.

The findings point to the potential importance of the weeks following the holiday season as businesses continue communicating with newly acquired customers.

Looking Beyond the Holiday Rush

Taken together, the research offers a broader look at how consumers shop during the holidays. Shopping activity can remain strong beyond the biggest promotional days, consumers may respond differently across communication channels, and first-time customers can continue engaging with brands after their initial holiday purchase.

For businesses, understanding these patterns can help inform how and when they communicate with customers throughout the holiday season and into the new year.

To explore the full findings and interactive charts, visit Mailchimp’s Breaking Through Peak Season Noise report.

(NewsUSA) - Rich food, extra stress and endless holiday gatherings can do a number on the digestive system. Between charcuterie boards, champagne toasts and once-a-year desserts, it’s no wonder bloating is one of the most common holiday complaints. And nothing kills holiday cheer faster than feeling uncomfortably full and sluggish. In fact, bloating is one of the most common holiday complaints. The good news is that bloating can be controlled without missing out on festive holiday foods.

Try these simple strategies and science-backed tweaks to maintain a happy gut and avoid that dreaded holiday bloat this year.

• Front-load each day with protein and fiber. A high-protein, high-fiber breakfast steadies blood sugar. It also helps boost satiety, making it easier to pass up office goodies or a second slice of pie.
• Eat smaller portions. Oversized holiday meals take much longer to digest, potentially leading to bloating. Try saving some favorites for the next day.
• Pause between bites. Taking at least 30 minutes to finish a meal helps prevent excess air from sneaking into your stomach, and the bloating that comes with it.
• Boost dietary fiber intake. Fiber helps move food through the digestive system at the right pace to keep things regular. Holiday foods that are good dietary fiber sources include pears, cranberries, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, walnuts and pecans.
• Give your digestive enzymes extra support. Digestive enzymes are the behind-the-scenes heroes that help break down food into usable nutrients. But if those enzymes are overwhelmed by a large holiday meal, undigested food may just sit in the gut becoming fuel for gas-producing bacteria. This may lead to bloating and discomfort. A simple way to get back on track is EZZDAY Debloat and Gas Relief, which combines probiotics, digestive enzymes and stress-regulating adaptogens for a total digestive reset. 
• Balance the bubbly. Champagne and other carbonated drinks add gas to the GI tract, which may intensify bloating. Alternate with water to support digestion.
• Walk it off. Short walks after meals help the body digest food more efficiently, while also helping to reduce bloating and lower stress.
• Restore gut balance with post-holiday TLC. Strict liquid diets aren’t always necessary for a great detox. Some gentle plant-based ingredients help flush toxins, promote regularity, and support metabolism (energy) and weight management. An easy option is EZZDAY Colon Detox capsules, which contain trusted botanicals such as senna leaf, milk thistle, dandelion, aloe and cranberry to naturally help cleanse, soothe and reset the digestive system.

With a few mindful digestive-friendly habits, it is possible to enjoy the season’s flavors without the discomfort. Find more wellness ideas and strategies at EZZDAY.com.