Cyber Monday sales surge as Amazon pushes AI shopping and deep discounts

U.S. consumers are expected to spend $14.2 billion on Cyber Monday, according to Adobe Analytics, marking a 6.3% increase from last year and capping a record-breaking holiday shopping weekend.

It remains the biggest online shopping day of the year in the United States, accelerating momentum from a strong Black Friday performance that saw shoppers, especially wealthier households, spend heavily, while budget-focused buyers hunted aggressively for deals.

At Amazon, executives say the shopping surge marks the unofficial start of the holiday season, with deals expected to drive demand across electronics, fashion, home goods and beauty.

“Cyber Monday is a really important time for our customers,” said Amanda Doerr, Amazon’s Vice President of Core Shopping.

“It’s that tradition where you kick off the holiday shopping season — and start deciding what makes it onto your list and into your home.”

Adobe forecasts that more than half of Cyber Monday spending will come from three major categories: electronics, apparel and furniture.

Discounts are steep across many brands, Amazon executives said.

“We’re looking at electronics, sporting equipment, athletic gear… earbuds, Beats, Nike, with prices 30, 50, even 60% off,” said J. Ofori Agboka, Amazon’s Vice President of People Experience & Technology for Global Operations.

Some products are already emerging as top sellers. Doerr noted classics such as Apple AirPods and trending beauty brands, while Agboka said shoppers, including himself, were seeking big-ticket tech deals.

“My 14-year-old daughter needs a new computer,” Agboka said. “We’ve seen laptops at 55% off, so that’s a great deal we’re taking advantage of.”

AI shopping tools see explosion in use

Widespread use of retail artificial intelligence tools such as Walmart’s Sparky and Amazon’s Rufus have been seen. Adobe estimates AI-assisted shopping traffic is up more than 670% from last year.

Doerr said Amazon’s AI assistant is helping shoppers find gifts more quickly and personally.

“Rufus is new to the store, you can ask it things in natural language,” she said.

“You can ask: ‘What should I get for my 12-year-old daughter’s stocking?’ and it will give personalised recommendations based on your shopping behaviour.”

Agboka said AI is also transforming Amazon’s warehouse operations.

“AI is changing the nature of work,” he said.

“It allows employees to focus on problem solving and reduces repetitive movements. It makes the work more efficient and safer.”

Amazon expands workforce and product selection

To handle holiday demand, Amazon has hired 250,000 seasonal and part-time workers, executives confirmed.

Doerr said Amazon also added major new brands this year — from Nike apparel to luxury beauty labels — strengthening its position as an all-in-one shopping hub.

“It’s exciting to see the breadth of selection,” she said. “Amazon really is a one-stop shop.”

Agboka closed with appreciation for the company’s workforce:

“Our employees are the heart and soul of what we do,” he said. “We can’t do any of this without them.”

Online shopping strength holds despite slower in-person traffic

While digital spending continues to rise, physical store visits were weaker over the long weekend — down 5.3% compared with last year, according to RetailNext.

Still, Adobe says online holiday spending remains resilient despite weaker consumer confidence and recent tariff impacts — continuing a post-pandemic pattern of modest but steady growth.

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