• Three quarters are convinced that they have better gift ideas than AI
• The majority would have no problem receiving a gift selected by AI
• Tips from friends and family remain the most important source of inspiration

Not another tie for Dad, a book for Mum, socks for Grandma – the first Sunday of Advent is just around the corner and the annual search for the perfect Christmas gifts presents many with a challenge. Some people therefore turn to AI applications for inspiration: this year, 9 per cent of Germans want to get tips for Christmas gifts from ChatGPT, Google Gemini and the like. At the same time, the majority remain sceptical: three-quarters (74 per cent) of Germans are convinced that they themselves know much better than AI what gift someone would like. These are the results of a representative survey of 1,002 people in Germany aged 16 and over, commissioned by the digital association Bitkom.

However, finding a gift selected by AI under the Christmas tree would be perfectly fine for the majority: 36 per cent would like to know if a gift for them was chosen with the help of AI, while only 31 per cent would have a problem with it. Younger people are particularly open-minded. In the 65+ age group, on the other hand, as many as 41 per cent would have difficulty with their gift coming from AI. ‘AI can be a real help when it comes to finding gifts – provided it gets good information,’ says Lucy Czachowski, AI expert at Bitkom. “The more specific the information about interests, hobbies or the available budget, the more accurate the suggestions will be. AI does not replace the personal touch, but if you prompt it carefully, you can not only get creative ideas, but also save time and stress when buying gifts.” A total of 22 per cent would love it if AI could also order suggested gifts right away, and 16 per cent can imagine giving an AI subscription such as ChatGPT Pro as a Christmas gift.

However, traditional sources of inspiration are still well ahead of AI: 6 out of 10 Britons (60 per cent) are getting gift ideas from friends or family this year. 40 per cent use suggestions from online shops, 37 per cent browse brochures or magazines. A similar number (36 per cent) find inspiration while browsing in shops, and 29 per cent on social networks such as Instagram or Pinterest. 26 per cent use traditional search engines, 24 per cent watch television, and 5 per cent read blogs. Around one in six (16 per cent) keep a gift list throughout the year, and 1 per cent give the same gift every year.

Note on methodology: The information is based on a survey conducted by Bitkom Research on behalf of the digital association Bitkom. A total of 1,002 people in Germany aged 16 and over were interviewed by telephone. The survey took place between calendar weeks 41 and 46 of 2025. The survey is representative. The questions were: ‘Where are you getting inspiration for your Christmas gifts this year?’ and ‘Which of the following statements apply to you or do not apply to you?’