According to a nationwide survey released by analytics company Qlik, a growing number of Americans plan to lean on artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and recipe-planning apps to help with Thanksgiving preparations this year.
The survey found that 54% of U.S. adults intend to use an AI tool to plan, prep, or cook part of their holiday meal. Younger generations are leading the shift: 58% of Gen Z and 56% of millennials say they expect to use AI for their Thanksgiving planning, compared to 45% of Gen X and only 25% of Baby Boomers.
Beyond novelty or convenience, many Americans are turning to AI with practical goals in mind:
- 53% expect AI to help them save money on groceries.
- 18% predicting they’ll cut their holiday food costs by $50 or more.
- 28% say AI could save them between 30 and 59 minutes in meal preparation.
According to Qlik’s findings, shoppers are using AI for tasks like building grocery lists (31%), planning shopping routes, generating recipe ideas, and even coming up with conversation starters or trivia for guests (26%).
Still, the survey shows that even as AI grows in popularity, Thanksgiving traditions remain strong. When asked who they trust most for cooking advice, respondents overwhelmingly chose family or friends (44%) over other sources – significantly higher than those who turn to cookbooks, hotlines, or digital tools.
“Americans are showing us exactly where AI fits into their lives – it’s the helper, not the host,” said Mike Capone, CEO of Qlik.
Qlik’s report highlights a holiday season where technology plays a larger role than ever before, but without replacing the personal touch that defines Thanksgiving gatherings. Instead, AI appears to be emerging as a supplemental tool – one that helps ease time pressures, streamline planning, and relieve some of the financial strain that comes with hosting.