Shopping and Decision Making
From major purchases to everyday choices, AI can help you think through decisions, compare options, and avoid buyer's remorse.
What You'll Learn
How to use AI to research purchases, compare options, and make better decisions.
Why This Matters
We make countless decisions daily. AI can help you think through important choices more systematically, saving time, money, and regret.
How AI Helps with Decisions
- Research products - Understand what to look for
- Compare options - Analyze pros and cons
- Check considerations - What you might forget
- Evaluate tradeoffs - Understand what you're giving up
- Get unstuck - When you can't decide
Researching Purchases
Understanding Categories
"I'm buying my first espresso machine. What features matter and what should I look for?"
Key Questions
"What questions should I ask when buying a used car?"
Red Flags
"What are warning signs to watch for when hiring a contractor for home renovations?"
Comparing Options
Structured Comparison
"Compare these options for me:
- Option A: [describe]
- Option B: [describe]
- Option C: [describe]
My priorities are [list priorities]"
Pros and Cons
"What are the pros and cons of buying vs. leasing a car for someone who drives 15,000 miles per year?"
Tables
"Create a comparison table for these three laptops: [list specifications or models]
Include price, performance, battery life, and best use case"
Try It Yourself
Get help with a decision:
Then continue:
- "Compare cordless vs. corded for my situation"
- "What features are worth paying extra for?"
- "What's a reasonable budget range?"
Major Purchase Decisions
Home
"I'm a first-time homebuyer. What should I be thinking about beyond just the house price?"
Car
"I'm deciding between buying new, used, or certified pre-owned. Help me think through this based on someone who keeps cars for 10+ years"
Technology
"Is it worth buying the latest smartphone, or should I get last year's model?"
Furniture
"I'm furnishing my first apartment. What should I invest in quality-wise vs. save money on?"
Everyday Decisions
Quick Purchases
"What should I look for when buying running shoes?"
Services
"How do I evaluate different internet service providers?"
Subscriptions
"Is [streaming service] worth it? What should I consider?"
Decision Frameworks
When You're Stuck
"I've been researching [item] for weeks and can't decide. Help me create a simple decision framework."
Priority Setting
"Help me rank what's most important when choosing an apartment: location, price, size, amenities, or building age"
10-10-10 Method
"I'm deciding whether to take this job offer. Help me think about how I'll feel about this decision in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years"
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Anchoring
"I found one laptop for $1500. Now everything else seems expensive. Am I being anchored?"
Analysis Paralysis
"I've compared 20 options and can't decide. Help me narrow this down to 2-3 finalists"
Emotional Buying
"I really want this, but I'm not sure if it's smart. Help me think through this objectively"
Budget Considerations
Value Assessment
"Is spending $200 more for [feature] worth it?"
Total Cost
"Beyond the purchase price, what ongoing costs should I consider for owning a boat?"
When to Splurge
"What categories of products are worth spending more on for quality?"
Getting Second Opinions
"I've decided to buy [item]. Play devil's advocate - what could go wrong or what might I be missing?"
"My gut says Option A, but logically Option B seems better. Help me explore why I'm drawn to Option A."
Decision Templates
Big Purchase
"I'm considering buying [item] for [amount]. Help me think through:
- Do I really need this?
- Is this the right time to buy?
- Is this the right option?
- Am I paying a fair price?
- What am I not considering?"
Choice Between Options
"I need to choose between [A] and [B]. My priorities are [list]. My concerns are [list]. Which aligns better with my situation?"
Pro Tip
For major decisions, tell AI your constraints:
"I'm deciding on a car. Key factors:
- Budget: $30,000 max
- Driving: Mostly city, occasional road trips
- Needs: Reliable, good resale value
- Nice to have: Good tech features
- Don't care about: Speed, luxury branding"
This focuses the help on what matters to you.
Common Questions
Q: Can AI tell me what to buy?
A: AI can help you think through decisions, but you know your needs best. Use AI for analysis, make the final call yourself.
Q: What about current prices and availability?
A: AI can't check current prices or stock. Use it for understanding what to buy, then check retailer sites for pricing.
Q: Can AI help negotiate?
A: Yes! Ask: "What negotiation strategies work for buying a car?" or "What should I say when negotiating rent?"
Q: What if I regret a purchase?
A: AI can help you think through returns, understand policies, or learn from the experience for next time.
What's Next
You've learned how AI can help with daily life. But there are important safety considerations we need to cover. In the next module, we'll focus on staying safe with AI.