A recent study conducted by Kaspersky highlights a significant shift in how artificial intelligence is used during the holiday and festive season. AI is no longer limited to assisting with shopping or travel planning. Instead, it has evolved into a multi-purpose digital companion that helps users generate ideas, organize activities, and even provides emotional support. This trend is particularly prominent among Millennials and Generation Z, signaling a deeper integration of AI into daily life during emotionally and socially intense periods such as holidays.
Growing Reliance on AI in the 2025/2026 Holiday Season
Kaspersky carried out the survey ahead of the Christmas holiday to understand how people plan to leverage AI tools to make the most of their vacation time, while also identifying potential cybersecurity risks. The findings reveal that AI usage is expected to rise sharply during the 2025/2026 holiday season, with 74% of respondents stating they plan to use AI-powered tools during their time off.
Younger demographics show even stronger enthusiasm, as 86% of respondents aged between 18 and 34 confirmed their intention to rely on AI throughout the holidays. This reflects a broader generational shift toward digital-first solutions for planning, decision-making, and personal support.
Practical Uses That Simplify Planning and Research
The survey indicates that users plan to employ AI across a wide range of practical tasks. More than half of respondents said they would use AI to search for food recipes (56%), while 54% intend to rely on it to find restaurants, accommodation, or places to stay.
These figures underscore AI’s growing role in streamlining research processes and saving time, especially during holiday periods that typically involve multiple decisions and limited availability. AI tools are increasingly viewed as efficient assistants capable of delivering quick and relevant recommendations.
A Key Source of Ideas and Smart Shopping Support
Beyond logistics, artificial intelligence has become a trusted source of inspiration. According to the study, 50% of participants use AI to brainstorm gift ideas, plan celebrations, and receive advice on holiday decorations. The same percentage plan to rely on AI for suggestions on how to spend their free time during vacations.
During the festive season, AI also plays a major role in shopping decisions. Nearly half of respondents use AI tools to create shopping lists, identify the best deals, and analyze product reviews. These capabilities allow users to align purchases with their preferences and budgets more effectively, making AI a valuable shopping companion.
Concerns Over Information Reliability and Online Threats
Despite these benefits, Kaspersky warns that the reliability of information provided by AI-powered chatbots remains a significant concern. Some AI-generated recommendations may include links that lead to malicious websites or phishing pages designed to steal personal or financial data.
Cybersecurity experts advise users to verify any links suggested by AI tools before clicking on them. They also recommend using advanced security solutions equipped with AI-based phishing detection to reduce exposure to cyber threats, particularly during high-traffic shopping periods.
AI as a Virtual Emotional Support Companion
One of the most notable findings of the study is AI’s emerging role in emotional well-being. Around 29% of users reported that they consider chatting with AI tools when they feel sad during the holidays.
The results show that Millennials and Generation Z are significantly more open to receiving emotional support from AI compared to older age groups. This trend reflects changing attitudes toward mental health support and the growing acceptance of digital tools as sources of comfort and companionship.
Warnings Against Overreliance and Oversharing
Commenting on the findings, Vladislav Tushkanov, Director of the AI Technology Research Center at Kaspersky, noted that while large language models are becoming increasingly capable of holding meaningful conversations, they are trained on vast amounts of online data. As a result, they may reproduce inaccuracies, biases, or misleading information present in their training sources.
He emphasized the importance of approaching AI-generated suggestions with caution and avoiding excessive sharing of personal or sensitive information when interacting with these tools.
Kaspersky’s Recommendations for Protecting Privacy
Kaspersky stresses that although conversations with AI services may appear private, most of these platforms are owned by commercial companies with their own data collection and processing policies. To safeguard personal information, the company recommends the following measures:
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Review the privacy policy of any AI tool before using it, and check whether users can opt out of having their conversations used for model training or marketing purposes.
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Avoid sharing personal, identifiable, or financial information with AI chatbots, and treat conversations as if they were public rather than confidential.
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Use AI services provided by well-established and trusted companies, and avoid unknown or suspicious chatbot applications designed primarily to collect data. Employing reliable security solutions such as Kaspersky Premium can help protect personal data and block access to untrusted links.
Study Background
The study was conducted by Kaspersky’s research team in November 2025 and included 3,000 participants from 15 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and India. The diverse geographic scope of the survey provides a global perspective on how artificial intelligence is reshaping holiday behaviors while introducing new cybersecurity challenges.
