More buyers turn to AI when searching for next car
Survey finds AI tools are becoming a big part of the car-buying journey and younger generations are leading the shiftThe News
More than a third of Australian car buyers are now using artificial intelligence (AI) to help them shop for their next car, according to carsales’ latest Consumer Sentiment survey.
The Key Details
- 35 per cent of buyers will likely use AI when searching for a car
- Millennials and Gen Z lead the surge
- ChatGPT is the preferred tool for more than 70 per cent of AI-using buyers
- Gemini is gaining traction among Gen Z (54%)
- Males are more likely to use the carsales AI assistant (39%)
The Finer Details
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how Australians choose and search for their next car, with the latest carsales Consumer Sentiment Survey revealing a significant generational shift towards AI-assisted shopping.
Based on data collected from more than 2000 respondents, as many as 35 per cent of buyers said they plan on using – or already use – AI to assist in their search for a car.
Millennials (born 1981-1996) are the most likely demographic to use AI in their search, at just over 50 per cent, followed by Gen Z (born 1997-2012) at 45 per cent.
Uptake is lower among Gen X (born 1965-1980) at 27 per cent and Baby Boomers (born before 1965) are least likely to jump on the AI bandwagon (18%).
Among those who use AI, OpenAI’s ChatGPT is the clear frontrunner, with more than 70 per cent of users selecting it as their preferred tool.
However, Gen Z shows a distinct preference for Google’s AI platform, Gemini, at just over 50 per cent.
The survey also found males more likely to use the carsales AI assistance compared to females, at 39 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively.
Microsoft Copilot, Grok and Claude were also cited but represented a much smaller share of usage.
The Road Ahead
With more than one in three buyers now using AI in their search – and uptake highest among younger generations – carsales has introduced new tools reflecting this shift.
An AI feature on carsales allows users to ask car-related questions and receive quick, data-driven responses, while carsales Voice AI enables hands-free searches by transcribing spoken queries.
Both tools are still in beta, meaning they’re fully usable on carsales but may occasionally give imperfect or incomplete answers as they continue to be refined.
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