[DigitalToday reporter Yoonseo Lee] A case has emerged showing that ChatGPT can be used to cut unnecessary spending by prompting people to weigh the need for a purchase and possible substitutes before online shopping.

Tech outlet TechRadar said on July 30 that it presented products and services it was considering buying to ChatGPT and asked for reasons it did not need to buy them, and as a result was able to put some spending on hold.

The key to the experiment was not product recommendations but asking first for reasons not to buy. Items reviewed were an Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 model, new sneakers, a Disney+ subscription and a microwave oven. It asked ChatGPT to judge whether there were cheaper alternatives and whether the purchase would actually solve a problem.

The first item reviewed was the MacBook. ChatGPT checked the current price and the most recent lowest price and compared cheaper products. It replied that the user should first assess whether a new device could address the problems of the existing one. It ultimately said, "There is no need to buy an M5 MacBook Air yet," recommending delaying the spending.

As an alternative, it suggested the previous-generation M4 model. It explained that given the price difference, the user should check first whether they are actually experiencing inconvenience with the current device rather than upgrading in haste. It posed questions such as whether the current Mac has become noticeably slow, and noted there was no need to replace it just because it is a previous-generation product.

What mattered was not the substitute itself but making the reason for buying more specific. Unable to clearly explain what problems the existing MacBook was causing, the user decided to postpone buying the new product. When reviewing other items, it also added the phrase, "Talk me out of it," to ChatGPT.

On sneakers, it advised, "If you already own similar shoes, wait until the ones you have wear out." For Disney+, it suggested subscribing for just one month once enough content has piled up to watch, rather than a long-term subscription. By contrast, it judged that a microwave needed replacement because the existing one had broken.

This approach contrasts with online shopping environments that minimize steps up to payment. ChatGPT played a role in making consumers check their reasons for spending one more time just before a purchase. The outlet added that it led users to think first about what they were trying to solve with the spending rather than whether to buy the desired item.

The case shows that generative AI can be used not only for product searches and recommendations but also for consumer decision-making. The approach reviews existing products on hand, the need for purchase and replacement costs, rather than stopping at comparing features or discount information. Use could grow, especially for items such as subscription services and electronics that require sufficient review before payment. The experiment’s key point was that it served as an aid to distinguish between unclear spending and spending that is actually necessary, rather than blocking consumption itself.