A recent study by Productrise has revealed that Google's AI Mode in its search function tends to suggest more expensive products compared to traditional search results. The analysis examined over 2 million products across 100,000 searches using both Google's AI Mode and classic search settings. On average, items recommended by the AI Mode were 49% more expensive than those in standard search results. Additionally, the same product was suggested by both modes in just 1.28% of cases, indicating that the AI often recommends entirely different items. Even when the same product was suggested by both search methods, the AI Mode frequently pointed users to different sellers. In nearly half of these instances (49.6%), the AI Mode selected a seller with a 21.6% higher price than the classic search result. This suggests that while the AI might identify the same product, it could lead users to more expensive options. Google explained that all shopping results, including those from the AI Mode, are drawn from the same data source called the Shopping Graph. However, the specific criteria that the AI uses to select products are not fully transparent. AI systems like this are often described as "black boxes" because their decision-making processes are complex and not always clear to users. The study also highlights a behavioral trend known as cognitive delegation, where people tend to trust AI recommendations instead of making their own decisions. This could lead users to accept the AI's choices without critically evaluating them, potentially resulting in higher spending. As AI's role in shopping decisions grows, understanding how these systems influence consumer behavior becomes increasingly important.