Archive · 24 Jul 2026
AI Reshaping 2026 Back-to-School Shopping Trends
Back-to-school shopping is changing a lot in 2026.
Parents are dealing with higher prices and more things they need to buy for school.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is now helping them shop smarter.
AI can compare prices, help make budgets, and even suggest which products are best.
Thomas McMillan, a top expert in retail, talked about how inflation, tariffs, AI, and social media are changing how families shop for school supplies.
Some people prefer using AI for shopping, while others stick to traditional methods like going to stores and checking prices manually.
AI is becoming a big help for parents who want to save money and make better choices.
AI is becoming a shopping companion for parents, helping with price comparison, budget management, and product selection.
Thomas McMillan, a top US retail expert, discussed how inflation, tariffs, AI, and social media are reshaping back-to-school shopping decisions.
Families are dealing with rising prices and an ever-growing list of must-have items for back-to-school shopping.
AI assists in comparing prices across different platforms to find the best deals.
Traditional shopping methods rely on in-store price checks and manual comparisons.
- Who
- Thomas McMillan, Director of the Center for Retailing Innovation at Mays Business School
- What
- AI is changing back-to-school shopping trends in 2026
- When
- 2026
- Where
- United States
- Why
- To help parents navigate rising prices, hidden school expenses, and an ever-growing list of must-have items
AI as a Shopping Companion
Traditional Shopping Methods
Price Comparison
AI as a Shopping Companion
AI helps parents compare prices across different platforms to find the best deals.
Traditional Shopping Methods
Traditional shopping methods rely on in-store price checks and manual comparisons.
Budget Management
AI as a Shopping Companion
AI assists in building and managing budgets for back-to-school shopping.
Traditional Shopping Methods
Traditional methods involve manual budgeting and tracking expenses.
Product Selection
AI as a Shopping Companion
AI provides recommendations and comparisons between products to help parents choose the best items.
Traditional Shopping Methods
Traditional shopping relies on personal preferences and in-store product reviews.
- Expert
- Thomas McMillan, Director of the Center for Retailing Innovation at Mays Business School
- Key Factors
- Inflation, tariffs, AI, social media
- AI Applications
- Price comparison, budget management, product selection
- Traditional Methods
- In-store price checks, manual budgeting, personal preferences