AI Shopping Assistants Gain Traction in Mexico
According to Adyen’s Retail Report 2026, 42% of Mexican consumers are already using AI shopping assistants, with a significant increase from 15% in the past year. Millennials lead the trend at 53%, followed closely by Generation Z at 45%.
Growing Adoption and Concerns for Security
The report highlights that nearly half of Mexican consumers, 48%, are open to having AI manage the entire shopping process once they’ve set criteria like budget or brand preferences. This growth in AI adoption coincides with concerns about online shopping security and privacy.
- Technology Adoption vs. Security Concerns: 82% of Mexican consumers want more tech-driven shopping experiences, yet 95% express concerns about data privacy and security. Additionally, 95% would reconsider purchasing from a retailer that has experienced a cyberattack, and 39% report being victims of retail-related fraud.
- Balancing Act: Ramón Martínez, SOTI’s Director for Latin America, emphasizes the need for a balance between tech-driven experiences and robust data protection. He states that retailers must find the right equilibrium between technology-driven experiences and solid data protection, which is now a crucial factor.
AI Enters the Scene for Efficiency and Discovery
Adyen attributes the rise in AI shopping assistant usage to immediate utility. Among users, 69% say it saves time, and 65% agree that it reduces online noise. The expectation is shifting towards active personalization, with 61% of respondents hoping retailers use AI for proactive product recommendations.
Cost-Conscious Consumers and Channel Flexibility
Despite the growing AI adoption, Mexican consumers remain cost-oriented and easily switch between digital and physical shopping channels. According to SOTI, economic pressure drives smarter consumption guided by value.
- Value-Driven Consumption: Martínez explains that economic pressure is pushing consumers to seek value more than ever, moving seamlessly between digital and physical purchases while expecting mobile-friendly, consistent retail experiences.
- Challenges in Visibility and Compliance: There are still difficulties with real-time visibility and compliance, reflecting supply chain gaps that impact the shopping experience.
Mobile Apps as Infrastructure for AI Shopping
AI-assisted shopping isn’t a standalone concept. SOTI reports that retailer-specific apps already play a strategic role by combining savings, navigation, loyalty, and payment features.
- App-Driven Personalization: 60% of Mexican consumers use apps for exclusive savings, featuring app-only offers, loyalty points, and personalized coupons. 51% value faster checkouts associated with one-tap purchases, digital wallets, and buy now pay later options.
- Personalization Demand: SOTI’s research indicates that 75% of consumers prefer stores using technology to personalize in-store experiences, and 73% choose online retailers doing the same for digital experiences. AI builds upon this foundation, with SOTI’s own language describing “AI-driven recommendations and promotions” as part of personalized shopping.
Trust as a Prerequisite for AI-Driven Purchases
Adyen’s report reveals that while 48% of consumers are open to AI completing purchases, they have stringent conditions. When asked about trust in AI for final purchases, 44% emphasized the need for clear responsibility guidelines, and 40% stressed the importance of post-selection review and cancellation controls.
- Security and Data Privacy Priority: Over half, 51%, prioritize payment information security and data privacy. The group hesitant about AI-driven purchases points to concrete risks, such as data privacy concerns (42%) and fear of making mistakes like selecting the wrong size or color (36%).
Retailers Accelerate AI Investments
AI’s growth isn’t solely consumer-driven; Mexican retailers are also embracing it. Adyen’s report shows that 83% of retailers are open to AI completing purchases, with 42% prioritizing it for the upcoming year and 37% planning specific AI investments in the next 12 months.
- Security and Responsibility Focus: Retailers’ AI investments prioritize security and clear responsibility frameworks, aligning with consumer demands. 43% of retailers cite ensuring complete data security as the most important factor for AI adoption, while 34% emphasize clear responsibility frameworks to protect their businesses from purchase error costs.
Methodology
SOTI’s research surveyed 13,000 consumers across 11 countries, including 1,000 in Mexico. The report focuses on integrated in-store and online experiences, economic pressures on retail, transaction anxiety, and expectations for AI and other disruptive technologies.
Adyen’s consumer research, conducted by Censuswide with a nationally representative sample of 2,000 Mexican consumers aged 16 and above, collected data between November 21 and December 3, 2025. Retailer research involved 500 Mexican businesses over 18 years old, gathered between November 25 and December 3, 2025.
