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EP 008
11 Min
A warm look at how AI is quietly changing how we shop, create, and connect during the holidays. Sometimes for better, sometimes not.
The holidays are supposed to feel personal, full of little traditions, thoughtful gifts, and moments that bring people closer. But in 2025, something new is showing up alongside the candles and playlists: AI.
In this episode, we explore the surprising ways AI is being used to make the season feel more “human”, not by replacing people, but by smoothing friction and sparking ideas. Holiday shopping is the most visible example: major platforms are rolling out AI shopping helpers that can turn vague prompts into gift ideas, track prices, and reduce the overwhelm of endless scrolling. Reports describe Amazon, Walmart, and Google updating AI assistants during the holiday rush, while forecasts suggest AI is influencing tens of billions of dollars in seasonal sales.
But the story isn’t only about convenience, it’s also about emotion. For many, the holidays intensify loneliness. Some people are turning to AI “companions” for conversation, comfort, or to feel heard. Research findings in this area are complex, but there is evidence that AI companions can reduce loneliness in specific settings. At the same time, experts also warn about the risks of one-way relationships and over-reliance.
Then there’s creativity: holiday ads, cards, music, and memories. Some brands have faced backlash when AI-made holiday ads felt uncanny or tone-deaf, a reminder that “efficient” isn’t the same as “meaningful.”
And in music, the rise of AI-generated songs has triggered major copyright fights, raising questions about what it means to create, and who gets credited, when machines join the band.
This isn’t a technical episode. It’s a human one: Where AI genuinely helps, where it cheapens the moment, and how to use it as a tool, without letting it replace the parts of the season that matter most.
