Use AI to shop Black Friday and Cyber Monday safely

AI can't find you the lowest price today, but it can help you compare deals, stick to your list, and slow down when a "deal" looks too good to be true.

Black Friday falls on Friday, Nov 27, 2026, and Cyber Monday on Nov 30. Lots of real deals show up that week, and so do fake stores, fake ads, and fake delivery texts. An AI chat can be a calm second opinion before you click "buy."

Make a list before the sales start

Tell it who you're shopping for and your budget, and ask for a short list of what you actually need. A list keeps you from buying things just because they're marked down.

Compare two deals side by side

Copy the product details from two listings (name, model, price, what's included, return policy) and paste them in. Ask it to compare them in a simple table and point out anything missing, like shipping costs or a short return window.

Example: "Here are two TV deals I found. Compare them in a simple table: price, size, model number, shipping, warranty, and return policy. Tell me which details are missing and what I should check on the store's website before I buy."

Spot a fake store or fake deal

Paste the ad, text, or the store's "About" and contact page (not your personal info) and ask: "Does anything here look like a fake store or scam?" Common warning signs:

• A price far lower than everywhere else.
• A store you've never heard of with a brand-new website, no phone number, or no real address.
• A web address that's almost a big brand's name, but not quite.
• Payment only by gift card, wire transfer, crypto, or a payment app.
• Pressure like "only 2 left, ends in 5 minutes."

Watch out for delivery texts

Around the holidays, fake "your package is delayed" texts and emails are everywhere. Don't click the link. Go to the store or shipping company's website yourself and type in your tracking number there. Our scam message guide walks you through checking one.

If something goes wrong

If an item never arrives or isn't what you ordered, ask AI to help write a short, polite message to the store asking for a refund. If you paid with a card, call the number on the back of your card and ask about disputing the charge.

Things to know

• AI doesn't know today's prices or stock. Always check the price on the store's own website.
• AI can miss a scam, and it can also call a real store fake. When in doubt, don't buy, and look the store up yourself.
• Never paste card numbers, passwords, or one-time codes into the chat, and never give them to someone who texts or calls you.
• You can report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.